BY ADDISALEM MULAT
As things stand at present, the boarder tension between Ethiopia and Sudan has been escalating at an alarming rate. As the latter persistently kept on turning a deaf ear to the former’s effort to resolve the problem through dialogue, attaining the sought after goal is turning out to be easier said than done.
In spite of the fact that the Sudanese government’s military wing beats the drums of war to serve a third party interest without regard for the Sudanese people, Ethiopia does not want to take up arms for the sake of not putting in danger the two nations’ welfare and destabilizing the region. But this does not mean that Ethiopia will simply sit binding its hand and foot.
In a similar vein, the Sudanese National Army has been breaching the basic principles of international law despite Ethiopia’s effort to solve the boundary problem in a peaceful way.
However, on the basis on Sudan’s reluctance, and violations of the bilateral boundary agreements of the two nations, the region is going to reach a make-or-break moment. Among other things, as a consequence of Sudan’s unpreparedness for dialogue, the horn of Africa is caught between a hammer and an anvil. In the light of the foregoing, Sudan is drawing sharp condemnations from every corner of the world.
With that being said, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia (MoFA) issued press statement on Ethio-Sudan Boarder this midweek that condemns Sudan’s acts in the strongest terms. It also lambasted Khartoum’s provocative behavior regarding the boundary issue between Ethiopia and Sudan.
The statement says Ethiopia believes that any conflict between our two countries would only result in a colossal collateral damage and jeopardizes the well-being of the two nations.
Therefore, the Ethiopian government strongly believes that the conflict being trumpeted by the Sudanese government’s military wing could only serve the interests of a third party at the expense of the Sudanese people.
In addition to that the statement pointed out that amidst of all these escalatory and provocative behavior of the Sudan, Ethiopia has shown a great deal of patience, remained restrained from exercising its legitimate right of self-defense and time and again expressed its commitment to a peaceful settlement of differences regarding the boundary through existing bilateral agreements and joint border mechanisms. What is needed is a political will of the two governments, which would enable them reach at an amicable solution.
According to the press statement, the Sudanese side has also overturned and undermined the efforts of the joint boundary committees that have been making tireless efforts to finalize the re-demarcation process of the common boundary.
Contrary to the spirit of friendship and cooperation existing between our two brotherly countries, the Sudanese Army looted properties, burned camps, attacked and displaced thousands of Ethiopians and controlled vacated Ethiopian Military Camps.
What is more deplorable is, in an apparent misrepresentation of the facts on the ground, Sudan is deliberately engaged in misinformation campaigns against Ethiopia by accusing the victim as an aggressor, evading accountability by shifting blame and camouflaging its belligerence and continue its provocation in an attempt to control more lands.
It is also underlined that the two governments have sufficient mechanisms to deal with any claims and counterclaims of the border or any territorial claims. However, the Sudanese National Army violated the basic principles of international law and peaceful settlements of disputes by unceremoniously invading Ethiopia in early November 2020.
In doing so, Sudan has violated the bilateral boundary agreements, which stipulate non-displacement of nationals of either nation from their farms jointly registered by the two Governments, the status quo of which shall be maintained until the disposition of the case by an agreement.
By way of conclusion the statement stressed that the Ethiopian government would like to call upon the people of Sudan to check on its government from serving a third party interest which only would result in the determent of the two nations.
Furthermore, Ethiopia calls upon brotherly African countries to advice the Sudanese government to finalize the border issues through available mechanisms in peaceful manner.
Be that as it may, regarding the boarder tension between the two countries, Ethiopia and Sudan, The Ethiopian Herald approached a commentator in current Ethiopian affairs, Dr. Eng. Tilahun Erduno.
He said, “The people of Sudan should be able to know the fact that the people of Ethiopia have respect for all including their neighbors and want the same in return.
Ethiopians never give their land and wish other’s territory. Furthermore, in its long history Ethiopia has never ignited war, and its people never give up to any might depriving their sovereign right,” he noted.
“Ethiopia always fights a just war and finally wins as usual. Frankly speaking, the county has exerted its utmost efforts to bring peace and security in the Horn of Africa including Sudan.
The Sudanese people have the legal and moral obligation not to be biased and tell Sudanese military junta to return to its territory, respect status quo and start looking for peaceful means for its claims.”
“It should be underlined that no dispute of such kind has been solved sustainably by such irresponsible and disrespectful military act of aggression. Therefore, instead of complicating and worsening the issue, the Sudanese people have to say no war between the two poorest nations.”
Among other things, Ethiopians believe that no international boundary and water issues will be solved with such disrespectful act of military aggression.
“We should suspect that the major actors behind the boarder issue between Ethiopia and Sudan are Egypt and probably others. Against this background, we should be very careful and wise.
We should also remember the fact that the Sudanese General was persistently leaving for Cairo,” he added.
“I would venture to say, invading the boarder of Ethiopia is not the plan of Sudan but Egypt. But it should be noted that Sudan is in a very dangerous economic and political crisis at this point in time. This being the case, Sudan would like to push the two countries into trouble,” he underscored.
Temesegen Tiruneh, Head of National Intelligence and Security Service for his part said in his official social media account that “We have been following every development very closely and taking precautionary measures to avoid civilians’ causalities.
Notwithstanding the fact that the red lines have been crossed time and time again, we did not act in time on account of the respect we have for civilians. We place emphasis on the general public. But the reason that we have not embarked on acting is not due to fear or other related aspects.
“It is abundantly clear that we the Ethiopians and the son of Ethiopia know when and how to act. We act in our own best interests. We do not act blindfolded, but logically.
Furthermore, in fact, all and Sundry know the fact that they do not have legal and natural rights to prevent us from using our resources and they have no rights as well to loot our assets.”
According to my own way of thinking, our neighboring’ corrupt leaders should be able to draw important lessons from the demise of TPLF junta. Otherwise, they will be made to learn from their self-inflicted harm. For us, the whole thing is as easy as falling off a log.
The Ethiopian Herald February 21/2021
