Sudan shuts border over tension between Ethiopia and Tigrey region

Sudan has closed the border between its eastern Kassala state and Ethiopia, following rising tensions between Ethiopian federal authorities and the Tigray region.

The announcement was made by governor Fateh Al-Rahman Al-Amin who said the border will remain closed until further notice.

The governor said he would travel to Wad Al Helew, a village in Kassala state bordering Ethiopia and Eritrea, to assess the situation.

He stressed that Sudanese authorities would not allow any individuals or groups to enter the state with weapons.

On Thursday, Sudan’s prime minister, Abdalla Hamdok held talks over the phone with his Ethiopian counterpart Abiy Ahmed, saying he was following the latest developments in Ethiopia with concern.

In a related development, the Ethiopian military and officials in the northern Tigray region are accusing each other of instigating a war that has seen fighting between government soldiers and troops loyal to the regional administration.

The deputy chief of Ethiopia’s army, Birhanu Jula, said that they were working to ensure that the conflict did not spread from Tigray to the rest of the country.

He described the conflict as senseless and said it had begun unexpectedly.

The regional president of Tigray, Debretsion Gebremichael, described it as an invasion and said there had been fighting near the border with the Amhara region.

Neighbouring Sudan says it has closed its border because of the security situation in Ethiopia.