The ‘Sudanese Scene’ reported that Ethiopia expressed concerns about the area adjacent to the Tigray region turning into a logistical and military corridor benefiting Eritrea, especially in the contested area of Wolkait between Tigray forces and the Ethiopian government’s Amhara allies. This request was conveyed through high-level envoys to Port Sudan last June, including the head of Ethiopian security and intelligence, Ridwan Hussain, and the Prime Minister’s advisor for East African affairs, Getachew Reda. According to the report, Burhan ignored the Ethiopian demand and reaffirmed his commitment to the strategic alliance with Eritrea, one of Sudan’s key allies. This alliance includes logistical and military support, such as hosting Sudanese refugees and facilitating their travel to Gulf countries, as well as training Sudanese recruits in Eritrean camps. Additionally, Eritrea hosted Sudanese military aircraft at Asmara Airport in May to protect them from threats attributed to the UAE by the Sudanese army. These developments come amid increasing tensions between the two countries, especially after Ethiopia received the leader of the Rapid Support Forces, Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo ‘Hemedti,’ with official honors in December 2023, followed by Abiy Ahmed’s visit to Port Sudan in July 2024, which angered Burhan due to what he described as ‘signs of friendship’ towards Hemedti. The report indicates that Sudan continues to strengthen its alliance with Eritrea, which opposes the Rapid Support Forces and considers them a tool for foreign influence in the region, reflecting the deep military and political coordination between Khartoum and Asmara amidst escalating regional tensions in the Horn of Africa.
