BY SOLOMON DIBABA
The historical relationship between Ethiopia and Sudan dates back to the 4th century A.D in which Axum and the Kingdom of Meroe were engaged in trade and other spheres of relations for over 3,000 years. On the other hand the two countries share one of the longest border areas inhabited by the peoples of the two countries with no regard to border issues.
In 1902, Britain unilaterally demarcated the border between Sudan and Ethiopia with no consultation and presence of any delegation from Ethiopia. Besides, the colonial border demarcated between the two countries was largely based on landmarks like mountains, rivers and trees which cannot indicate accurate border demarcations.
Pursuant to the agreements between the founding members of the former OAU, the colonial border demarcations were accepted as legal demarcation between the African countries back in 1964.
In 1956, Sudan gained its independence from the Britain. In those days, despite the independence of Sudan and expectations from Ethiopia for amicable relations, the country provided refuge and support for Eritrean Liberation Front which was fighting for the independence of Eretria while Ethiopia provided some support for the armed resistance of the Agnana Movement.
Ethiopia later on brokered a peace accord entitled the Addis Ababa Accord sponsored by Emperor Haile Selassie ending the conflict in South Sudan in 1972 with a regional autonomy for the South.
Ever since its independence Sudan supported both the ELF and EPLF for more than 30 years while it gave refuge and support for TPLF in their joint struggle against the Derge regime in Ethiopia. The relationship between Sudan and Ethiopia continued in an ebb and flow during the Derge’s military rule.
Later on consequent efforts made by the EPRDF to establish a committee for border demarcation failed with no meaningful results breeding tensions in the border areas between the two countries.
Geographical proximity, use of Abay River by Sudan and Egypt, people-to-people ties created a situation in which development in one directly affected the other. During the Derg regime, due to the ideological differences between the then ruling elites of the two countries and the global atmosphere created by the cold war relations were marked by the involvement of one in the internal affairs of the other – most notably in the form of assisting opposition groups.
In 2011, Ethiopia played an active role in soliciting peace between the SPLM and the Sudanese Government which culminated in the independence of South Sudan. Ethiopia, under the intiative taken by Prime Minister Dr. Abiy Ahmed was again the first country to engage in finding a sustained solution to the crisis that flared up in Sudan after the downfall of the Al-Bashir government and its replacement by a provisional military government.
Ethiopia in cooperation with the AU masterminded the restoration of peace and stability in Sudan through the formation of a provisional government over three years. While major powers of the world were sitting on the fence regarding the crisis in Sudan, Ethiopia saved the country from plunging into a total civil war.
Compared to major outstanding strategic relations between the two countries, the issue of border demarcation, although very important for promoting mutual trust must not be the most critical issue that should lead to strained relations between the two countries.
Ethiopia and Sudan face similar challenges which among other things include food insecurity, challenges in industrial development, internal security issues, arms and human trafficking, contraband trade and a myriad of other issues whose solution requires the cooperation between the two countries.
As Sudan is no more dependent on oil resources, the country will certainly benefit from cooperation with Ethiopia on developing hydropower and other renewable energy resources, promotion of regional economic integration through a railway network between the two countries and joint economic ventures in eco-tourism, agricultural development and joint utilization of Port Sudan.
In April 2017, Ethiopia and Sudan agreed to launch a free trade zone, a railway line and to promote equitable use of the water of the Nile. However, Sudan has repeatedly changed positions on the trilateral negotiations on GERD, sometimes supporting and at times opposing and even threatening to boycott the negotiations.
The African Development Bank’s Board of Directors has approved a $1.2 million grant to Ethiopia’s government to finance a feasibility study into a standard-gauge railway (SGR) link between Ethiopia and neighboring Sudan.
In April 2017 Ethiopia and Sudan agreed on to launch a free trade zone, a railway line and to promote equitable use of the water of the Nile.
The railway line will link Addis Ababa in Ethiopia to Khartoum in Sudan, with an extension to Port Sudan on the Red Sea. The route, agreed by both governments, stretches some 1,522 kilometers from Addis Ababa to Port Sudan. One can easily draw the benefits that the two countries can get once the railway is constructed and put to use.
With the launching AfCFTA, the African Continental Free Trade Area on January 1, 2021 Ethiopia and Sudan can gear up to a comprehensive and mutually beneficial trade relations that can help both countries to accelerate their economic development programs in line with Agenda 2063 to provide better livelihood for their respective citizens. These programs all provide excellent opportunities for both countries grappling with abject poverty.
The Republic of Sudan needs to realize the sustained benefits that the country can exploit in engaging in deeper political and relations instead of swinging between peaceful relations and escalation of unnecessary tensions. The government in Sudan needs to realize that Ethiopia is a reliable partner for mutual development between the two countries and need not serve as a conveyer belt for the fulfillment of the interest of a third party wishing to conduct a proxity war with Ethiopia.
Furthermore, any disruption of peace on the Ethio-Sudanese border will certainly not be limited in the border areas of the two countries but could easily spill over in the entire Horn of Africa threatening peace and stability in the region.
At this point in time when both Sudan and Ethiopia are grappling with huge economic challenges triggered by COVID-19 and other economic hurdles, Sudan is not expected to trap Ethiopia into a diplomatic and military quagmire assuming that Ethiopia is busy and is weakened with the challenges in enforcing the rule of law in Tigray region.
Due to TPLF triggered aggression on the peoples and the armed forces of Ethiopia at the Northern Command, thousands of refugees have fled to Sudan in fear of the escalating tension. While TPLF was directly responsible for the influx of refugees, the international community and UN representatives in Sudan were shifting the blame on the Ethiopian government although the government is now doing its best to repatriate the refuges back to their country.
On the other hand, the reality on the ground vividly shows that both Sudan and Ethiopia have no economic basis that can buttress a dangerous escalation of tensions that is mutually destructive. The only solution to the temporary crisis is a constructive dialogue between the two countries through their own border demarcations committee and other joint commissions related to joint development programs agreed between the two countries.
Ethiopia and Sudan need to reinvigorate the utilization of a public diplomacy that helped to further all strengthen the relations between the two countries. This was reciprocated by the formation of joint economic and trade commissions that were meant to oversee mutual economic and trade relations that were beneficial for both countries. These positive developments should be energized for the benefit of both countries.
It is indeed very important to take trust building mechanisms that could bear practical benefits for both countries. Sudan has a number of investments in Ethiopia which need to be further expanded into various economic sectors. No other country in Africa is as close to Ethiopia as Sudan is and sabre rattling could never be a solution for resolving issues that crop up between the two countries.
The Sudanese government is far well versed on the foreign policy of Ethiopia both in practice and in theory. They fully understand that Ethiopia has an unswerving stand on peace in Africa and particularly with the neighboring countries. That is why Ethiopia worked for peace in Sudan in 1972, 2011 and in 2019 and 2020 as well as keeping peace in Abiye and Darfur under the auspices of UNSC.
Ethiopia benefits more from a peaceful transition of power in Sudan through peaceful election to be possibly conducted in about a year later and is certainly ready to resolve border issues in its long years of diplomatic negotiations. At the end of the day dialogue and not escalation of tensions on common borders is the only civilized way out of the current ordeal.
In his public address to the peoples of Ethiopia on the occasion of Timket, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said Ethiopia’s quest for peaceful coexistence and friendly relations with countries should not be taken as a sign of weakness but a bold stance to maintain stability and friendship among nations.
The Ethiopian Herald January 21/2021
