Sudan sending official protest to Ethiopia over convoy attack
By Tesfa-Alem Tekle
April 15, 2012 (ADDIS ABABA) – The Sudanese state of Gedaref is sending an official letter of complaint to the Ethiopian government over the recent attack by armed men targeting governor of the Eastern Sudanese state.
The reason for the attack remains unclear, however sources claim the governor was in a dispute with an Ethiopia man over land before his convoy came under fire by armed men.
The governor accuses Ethiopians residing near the common border of carrying out multiple deadly cross border attacks against Sudanese villages and claims Ethiopian authorities are doing little to resolve the issue.
He alleged that cattle rustling perpetrated across the border is commonplace.
Following last week’s attack, the Abbas vowed to carry out a military campaign against the armed bandits who are causing security threats along the Ethiopian-Sudan border.
He also threatened to sever ties with the bordering Ethiopia’s Amhara region, where he was heading to hold a meeting with his Ethiopian counterparts before the assault.
The president of the Amhara region, Ayalew Gobeze, apologised to the governor and pledged to cooperate with Sudanese authorities in hunting down the perpetrators.
Ethiopia and Sudan have an annual border commission meeting where they evaluate the implementation of past agreements and consult on further strengthening cooperation and ties based on mutual interest.
There is already an agreement in place which covers border trade, political and security matters.
Ethiopian opposition politicians have accused the current government of handing over Ethiopian territories to Sudan in exchange for the country’s help in arresting and handing over exiled rebels.
(ST)