BY YESUF ENDRIS
Over the past couples of weeks, the Ethio-Sudan border has been at the heart of media scrutiny with tension mounting along the two countries’ border.
Though the lids of the reason behind the brewing tension are yet to be lifted with reported proxy interests from different foes, the recent skirmishes do not necessarily characterize the longstanding friendship that exists between the two sisterly countries.
Equally true, amicability and fraternity are what best define the relation between the two countries yet same peoples.
Though there is a geographic line separating the two nations, the social and economic ties between the peoples are increasingly growing closer and closer over the years.
The boundary in fact is nothing more than administration line. And, if there is one to blame for the incidents in the borders, it is some politicians who wish to plant discontent among the peoples.
In fact, minor and recurrent border disputes have been unfolding since long ago; the problems have consequently been settled peacefully though owing to the long history of bilateral ties in the sphere of political, economic and societal affairs.
Unlike the doomsday tellers, who try to stoke fuel on the recent minor incidents, historians wrote that boundary dispute between the two countries is not as complicated as it seems.
True, the bad yet consequential legacies left by colonial powers are predominantly to blame for the flaring up of disputes along the border.
Emboldened by some paymasters and driven by narrowly defined goals, few groups have been trying to sow discord between the countries that have already witnessed their fair share of internal challenges as they go through political transitions.
If the minor incidents go unchecked, they will have major repercussion that will destabilize not only the two countries but also the entire and volatile Horn African region.
Some of the border skirmishes have been ascribable to officials, who would like to fabricate conflicts and gain cheap popularity or underserved benefit at expense of people’s mayhem.
The peoples of Ethiopia and Sudan have long history of communal attachments. To the naysayers’ dismay, diplomacy has been weaponized by both countries to overcome border disputes for long.
A number of dialogues aiming at resolving this politically instigated dispute have also been held to line boundary demarcation since the time of Sudan independence. In January 1st of 1972, The Ethiopian Herald wrote that Emperor of Ethiopia, Haile Selassie I had five day official visit to Sudan and conferred President Gaafar Mohammed el-Nimeri concerning the two countries, and reached a number of agreements in resolving bilateral issues and to strengthen trade and economic developments across the two countries.
Boundary demarcation also has been signed during 1972 between the two countries though successors of Sudanese leaders refused to recognize the agreement because of vested political interests whose repercussions are still very alive.
Border disagreements are not foreign to the two countries but the recent incidents came at very worrying time with both countries going through make-or-break political transitions. This in turn could serve as a hotbed for external forces and rebels thereby shaking central governments in both sides.
Recently, the Ethiopian government also accused the TPLF junta of calling Sudan to enter into Ethiopia’s territory aiming at weakening the federal army. Besides, there is pushing factor from the side of some Sudanese politicians.
Accordingly, those politicians are insistently pushing the Sudanese army towards committing arson, looting of farmers’ machineries, and attacking civilians through breaking the boarder.
Concerning the issue, Prime Minister Dr. Abiy Ahmed has also twitted following the outbreak of the dispute that the government is scrupulously “we are working with local forces to mage incidents on the Ethio-Sudan boarder. Such incidents will not break the bond between the two countries as we always use dialogue to resolve issues.”
“Those fanning discord clearly do not understand the strength of our historical ties,” twitted Dr. Abiy.
Information from Ministry of Foreign Affairs indicates that some Sudanese forces with sinister motives of straining the amicable relation, are pushing into Ethiopia’s territory; using the current situation in Ethiopia into account and as a fertile ground to take measures to assert dominance in the region.
Dina Mufti, Ministry of Foreign affairs Spokesperson told journalists in a press conference that Ethiopia’s stance concerning the issue is not waging war, but working for mutual benefit and for peaceful dialogue.
“In spite of the calming of tension, there are some parties instigating war and intentionally involving into it to quench their personal interest. Some of Sudanese authorities are also known for their involvement in the occasion.
However, no matter how gig their effort to get the two countries clashed, there is no place for their mission to be attained on the side of Ethiopia.”
As to him, the government of Ethiopia is still committed to hold peaceful dialogues so as to resolve the problem once and for all.
He further stated that Sudanese army led by third party or individual interest is causing harm in Ethiopian territory. The Ethiopian government has witnessed a number of attacks from Sudanese side with no any military response since it considered the long aged tie between the two countries; we believe that this evil act is not the real interest of the Sudanese people,” he said.
Local Ethiopian governors around the boarder have also announced that some Sudanese force are committing crimes against assets, killing many civilians and displacing thousands of Ethiopians too. Yet, Ethiopia is looking for peaceful management of the border incidents.
The federal government has repeatedly called for joint peaceful agreement since some Sudanese Politicians, particularly backed by third party are waging war against their second home, Ethiopia. It is well recognized that there was no clear reason for military action and the rising of arguments except their rare break out either at the time of political rivalry or during the time of political transition in both countries.
Leaders of both countries have also had dialogues to resolve the boundary dispute, and agreed to continue peaceful initiative and deal with the issues.
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Demeke Mekonen also paid visit this month to Sudan and had a discussion on the boundary issue with Sudanese authorities.
During the discussion, Demeke said that Ethiopia is patiently looking for peaceful dialogue with Sudan. “We are observing organized attack by some Sudanese military forces using heavy machine guns and armored convoys,” he said.
He also mentioned that Ethiopia and Sudan have strong and longstanding relation and intertwined; whatever happens in Ethiopia will certainly have spillover effect in Sudan and vice versa.
He also said, “The situation happened in the Ethio-Sudan common border did not play into the longstanding principles of solidarity and fraternity.”
He also urged that the primary duty of the two countries is reactivating the existing mechanisms and finding solutions for settling disputes as these are the only ways to bring lasting solution to the problem.
After the discussion, both parties have stated that they will continue discussing the peaceful resolution and so as to come up with lasting solutions to the problems.
Lately, Ethiopia and Sudan delegations have discussed ways to strengthen economic cooperation around the borders. To sum up, the incomparable way to get the sources of border dispute at Ethio-Sudan border dried is entertaining a peaceful dialogue that leads to line a clear boundary demarcation.
The Ethiopian herald December 30/2020
