Sudan, Egypt reject Ethiopia's accusation of backing Tigray opposition groups

Sudan and Egypt have rejected Ethiopian accusations that they are backing opposition groups fighting federal troops in Tigray. The exchange follows a return to large-scale conflict in Ethiopia’s northernmost region, raising fears that the fighting could spread beyond its borders.

In a statement on Sunday evening, Sudan’s army described the accusations as "baseless", said it would "not allow any infringement of its sovereignty" and called on Addis Ababa to "exercise accuracy and responsibility and resort to dialogue".

The response came after Ethiopia’s chief of general staff, Field Marshal Jula, accused "foreign powers" of supporting an opposition alliance led by the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) in its offensive against government troops.

"The Tigray front and the alliance cannot achieve anything on their own unless they are pushed, supported and supplied by Sudan, Egypt and other forces," a statement issued on Friday read. The army chief also accused Eritrea of backing armed groups and fighting federal troops.

The TPLF, which largely governs the semi-autonomous region, formed an alliance with Fano, a rebel group from neighbouring Amhara, and five other groups. The alliance launched an offensive on Wednesday, seizing airports and clashing with federal troops in northern Ethiopia. Fighting that began in 2020 killed thousands and displaced tens of thousands more before the parties signed a cessation of hostilities agreement in November 2022.

Sudan’s army, in turn, accused Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed of "supporting and backing" the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which has been fighting Sudanese government forces since civil war broke out in April 2023.

Khartoum alleged that Ethiopia was providing "training and supplies and the use of Ethiopian territory in military activities including strategic drones and suicide drones" in support of the paramilitary group. Addis Ababa has denied similar accusations in the past.

Relations between the two countries worsened in May when Sudan accused Ethiopia and the United Arab Emirates of involvement in a series of large-scale drone attacks targeting Khartoum Airport. Sudan alleged that the drones had taken off from Ethiopia’s Bahir Dar Airport.

Tensions with Egypt

Egyptian sources have also denied any involvement in the renewed fighting in Tigray and Amhara.

Speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper, an Egyptian source described the allegations as "not meriting a response". The source said Cairo has "nothing to do with such polemics” and maintains “a consistent and strict policy of non-interference in the internal affairs of other countries".

The exchange follows renewed tensions between Cairo and Addis Ababa over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam. Egypt and Sudan want a legally binding agreement on how the dam is operated. Egypt relies on the Nile for more than 90% of its freshwater, while Ethiopia says the Blue Nile dam is vital to its electricity supply.

Last week, Egyptian Water Resources Minister Hani Sewilam said Ethiopia needed to understand that building a dam on a river shared by many states was "not like laying a carpet in their homes". He rejected Ethiopia’s position that decisions about the water source rest with Addis Ababa alone.

Ethiopia responded days later, accusing Cairo of a "crude colonial mentality".