Ethiopia and Sudan have expelled each other's diplomats in a fresh escalation of tensions over allegations that Addis Ababa is supporting rebel forces fighting the Sudanese army.
Two Sudanese government officials told AFP that the diplomatic standoff began after Ethiopia declared six Sudanese diplomats persona non grata on November 2 and gave them 48 hours to leave the country.
Sudan retaliated by ordering Ethiopian diplomatic staff at its consulate in Gedaref to leave within a similar 48-hour deadline.
The diplomatic row follows accusations by Sudan's army-aligned government that the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have launched at least 70 attacks from Ethiopian territory this year.
A report by Sudan's Transitional Sovereignty Council alleges that 187 one-way attack drones were launched from Ethiopia, killing and injuring nearly 500 civilians.
Khartoum says it has lodged complaints with the United Nations Security Council and the African Union.
Ethiopia has denied the allegations and, in turn, accused Sudan's army of supporting rebels linked to the Tigray People's Liberation Front, claims rejected by Khartoum.
The diplomatic fallout comes amid continued fighting in Sudan, where the RSF has advanced through Blue Nile State, displacing approximately 100,000 people, according to the United Nations.
Sudan's conflict, which erupted in April 2023, has killed more than 200,000 people and triggered widespread hunger and displacement.
Meanwhile, residents of Al-Damazin reported hearing drone strikes overnight Wednesday as fighting intensified near the city.
The RSF has been advancing through Blue Nile State this year, forcing thousands to flee their homes amid worsening insecurity and limited humanitarian access.
The United Nations estimates that nearly half of those displaced in the Blue Nile offensive are sheltering in Al-Damazin.
Meanwhile, drone strikes involving both the Sudanese army and RSF killed more than 1,100 people across Sudan in the first half of this year, highlighting the growing civilian toll of the conflict.
The prolonged conflict has also severely disrupted essential services, damaged critical infrastructure and restricted the delivery of humanitarian assistance to vulnerable communities.
International agencies have repeatedly warned that continued fighting risks worsening food shortages, particularly in areas already affected by mass displacement and limited access to basic necessities.
