Sudan accuses Ethiopia and UAE of drone strike

Army spokesperson Asim Awad Abdelwahab has claimed UAVs targeted key sites across the capital

Published 5 May, 2026 10:38 | Updated 5 May, 2026 11:40

Sudan accuses Ethiopia and UAE of drone strike

Sudan has accused Ethiopia and the United Arab Emirates of being behind a recent drone attack on Khartoum International Airport, according to statements by armed forces spokesperson Brigadier General Asim Awad Abdelwahab on Tuesday.

The Sudanese authorities reported that multiple airstrikes on Monday hit key sites across the capital, including the main airport, nearby residential neighborhoods, and several strategic military positions such as the al-Markhiyat training facility in Omdurman and the Signal Corps base in Khartoum North, before being driven back by air defense systems.

Sudan descended into civil war in April 2023 following a power struggle between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Data from the UN indicates that nearly 12 million people have been displaced by the conflict.

Sudan’s war and accusations of foreign meddling

Sudan descended into chaos in April 2023 when fighting erupted between the national army (Sudanese Armed Forces, SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). This occurred after months of tension between their commanders, army generals Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo ‘Hemedti’, respectively, over a planned transition to civilian rule. What began in the capital, Khartoum, as a power struggle has devastated the country, killing tens of thousands and displacing millions.

Regional and international peace efforts, including African Union mediation and Saudi–US talks in Jeddah, have repeatedly stalled. Sudanese officials have named Colombians and Ukrainians among mercenaries backing the RSF against the army. Officials have also accused Ukraine and the United Arab Emirates of involvement and recently claimed the European Union has an “incomplete understanding of the complex situation” in the country.

Khartoum has also accused authorities in neighboring Kenya of backing the RSF and has broken ties with the East African grouping IGAD amid mistrust of regional mediation. In July, TASIS, a political coalition aligned with the paramilitary, announced the formation of a rival government months after its members signed a charter in Nairobi. It named Gen. Dagalo as chairman of a 15-member presidential council, a move rejected by the UN and AU.

“We formally announce the involvement of the UAE and Ethiopia in the bombing of Khartoum airport,” officials said, as quoted by the Sudan Tribune, adding that Sudan could respond whenever and wherever it deems appropriate.

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Speaking at a joint briefing, Sudanese Foreign Minister Mohieddin Salem and military spokesperson Abdelwahab said they possess what they described as “conclusive evidence” that the drones originated from Bahir Dar airport in Ethiopia, while also presenting technical data claiming that a UAV marked S88 and allegedly linked to the UAE was tracked crossing into Sudanese airspace from Ethiopian territory.

They alleged that the same type of drone had previously launched repeated strikes against Sudanese forces in Al-Kormuk and other territories of Blue Nile State, in addition to operations across North and South Kordofan, before it was ultimately shot down north of El Obeid on March 17. However, Ethiopian officials rejected the accusations at the time.

In response to the developments, Salem had ordered the recall of the country’s ambassador to Ethiopia for consultations.

On Tuesday, Ethiopia’s Foreign Ministry dismissed the accusations as “baseless,” asserting that Addis Ababa remains committed to its longstanding ties with Sudan and reiterating calls for dialogue, a humanitarian truce, and a broader political process to resolve the crisis.