Sudan and Ethiopia expel diplomats in escalating regional tensions

Sudan's government has expelled Ethiopian diplomats, alleging that Addis Ababa has provided military support to the Rapid Support Forces, a paramilitary group engaged in Sudan's ongoing civil conflict. Ethiopian authorities have simultaneously ordered Sudanese diplomats out of the country, accusing Khartoum of backing the Tigray People's Liberation Front in Ethiopia's northern Tigray region.

The tit-for-tat expulsions mark an escalation in an already fraught relationship between the two nations, which have a history of cross-border tensions and competing regional interests. Both countries face significant internal security challenges, with the involvement of neighbouring states accused of complicating peace efforts and prolonging internal conflicts.

The diplomatic standoff comes at a time when regional stability in the Horn of Africa remains precarious. International observers have expressed concern about the potential for proxy conflicts to destabilize the region further, particularly given the involvement of multiple armed groups and the humanitarian crises unfolding in both Sudan and Ethiopia.

Neither government has provided substantive evidence to support its accusations, and both have consistently denied involvement in the other's internal conflicts. The expulsions represent a significant deterioration in bilateral relations and suggest diminished prospects for dialogue between Khartoum and Addis Ababa in the near term.