Sudan’s border transgression contradicts interest of its people: MoFA

Addis Ababa, January 20, 2021 (FBC) – In a weekly press conference held today, Spokesperson of Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Dina Mufti Sudan has not been allowed to occupy territory of Ethiopia, but to tightly protect its own borders.

Ambassador Dina reiterated that Ethiopia is still ready to resolve border dispute with Sudan through peaceful dialogue. Sudan’s recent border transgression contradicts the interest of its people, the Spokesperson said.

Spokesperson recalled that Ethiopia urged Sudan to tightly protect its borders during the onset of the law enforcement operation in Tigray.

However, the Spokesperson said, the Sudanese army breached border of Ethiopia and occupied land of the country.

Ethiopia is still urging Sudanese army to withdraw from territories of Ethiopia it has occupied, he noted.

Ambassador Dina said that there are some elements working to bring the border dispute in to conflict.

Regarding the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), Ambassador Dina said the trilateral negotiation as well as construction of the dam and water filling process will continue.

He refuted the information circulated as there is intervention of foreign countries in the law enforcement operation in Tigray.

Ethiopia is briefing several countries on developments related to the border dispute with Sudan, the Spokesperson added.

Media are reporting that some Sudanese military officials are claiming to have got consent from the Ethiopian side to let the Sudanese army occupy the Ethiopian border areas as part of the scheme to support the law enforcement operation in Tigray, the spokes person said.

Ethiopia appreciates the Sudanese government for its cooperation with the government of Ethiopia during the former’s efforts in enforcing law and order in the country, according to the spokesperson.

“However, it was surprising to see the Sudanese military misconstruing the friendly talks for cooperation along the borderlines of Ethiopia as a green light to encroach into Ethiopian lands.” he remarked.

“It should be clear that our government is responsible and sensitive to the sovereignty of the country and could not agree, by any means, to let a third party occupy Ethiopian lands.”, ambassador Dina Mufti added.

“We have heard that some countries have expressed readiness to mediate between Sudan and Ethiopia on the border issues. Ethiopia appreciates such initiatives but it has never closed the opportunity to resolve the matter through a bilateral dialogue with Sudan.” he said.

Ethiopia has never had refused to talk to Sudan and solve the issue in a civilized manner, he underlined, adding “In this regard, as we have repeatedly said, had it not been for our firm stand to carryout negotiations with Sudan on border issues, it would have been relevant to invite third parties to mediate the two countries.”

Ethiopia still believes that there is no need for the flaring up of boundary issues with Sudan since the issue can get a peaceful resolution through dialogue. However, it is undeniable that we felt betrayed and backstabbed by the army of a friendly country, ambassador Dina stressed.

The Sudanese Army took advantage of the internal situation in Ethiopia to enter inside Ethiopian territory and loot property, burn civilian camps, kill attack and displace Ethiopians. This does not commensurate with the longstanding fraternal relationship that the two countries have.

Ethiopia strongly believes that the recent action of Sudan’s military will not serve the interest of the Sudanese people but the interests of third parties that calculated to profit out of the mutual destabilization of the two countries.

Ethiopia insists that the Sudanese army should go back to where it was before the invasion of our lands on November 06 as per the 1972 Exchange of Notes between the Foreign Ministers of the two countries that inked the agreement to keep the status quo in the area.

Almost all of the major issues that concerns Sudan regarding the dam have been addressed, the spokes person stated.

Ethiopia has initiated and cooperated with Sudan and Egypt to establish the International panel of experts that can present findings that are reliable, unbiased and scientific regarding the effects of the construction of the dam, he noted.

The dam has been proved to lessen the effects of the recurring flooding in Sudan and provide cheap and environmentally friendly source of energy, ambassador Dina underlined.

Due to regulated water flows, Sudan is expected to expand its agriculture and the dam will reduce sedimentation in Sudanese farmlands, he indicated.

Upon the request of the Sudanese regarding the dam’s safety, Ethiopia has exchanged data with Sudan, he said.

Ethiopia believes that some irregularities in the recent Sudanese actions on the GERD negotiations do not emanate from the inherent needs of the people of Sudan. “As to Ethiopia, we are committed to continue the building the dam and the negotiation too,”, he underlined.