Sudan accuses Ethiopia of sponsoring local militia in the Blue Nile
KHARTOUM – Another crisis is looming in the Horn of Africa, but this time there are traditional allies of Sudan and Ethiopia, not about the controversial Grand Renaissance Dam, but about a well-funded militia within the Blue Nile that allegedly sabotages the Khartoum administration.
Over the weekend, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki visited Sudanese Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok, but it is not clear whether the issue of an Ethiopian-sponsored militia was discussed. However, the issue of the Grand Renaissance Dam was widely addressed.
The Sudan News Agency reports that Ethiopia is funding a militia group along the Blue Nile, which is reportedly causing chaos and antagonism in Sudan, adding that Addis Ababa is supplying weapons, ammunition and combat equipment.
The leader of the militia, Joseph Touka, of the Sudan News Agency, says he has sophisticated links with the Ethiopian administration and has used the links to work together to ensure the sustainability of his troops.
“The Ethiopian government provided logistical support to Joseph Touka’s forces in the Blue Nile, including weapons, ammunition and combat equipment. The support arrived in Yabou on February 27, 2021, and the support was received by Commander Joseph Touka and some of his forces’ commanders,” said the agency.
Khartoum now says Addis Ababa is keen to use Joseph Touka’s troops to seize the town of Kurmuk, located on the banks of the Blue Nile, a move aimed at distracting operations on the eastern front of the country.
“It should be noted that the Ethiopian government aims to use Commander Joseph Touka to occupy the city of Kurmuk with the support of Ethiopian artillery with the aim of spreading the Sudanese army’s efforts on the Eastern Front,” it said.
But Addis Ababa is yet to respond to the damaging report, which could further track unity within the Horn of Africa. Sudan has hosted Ethiopian refugees fleeing the Tigray region following a military operation that has caused international uprising.
Addis Ababa’s administration is accused of collaborating with Asmara to deploy Eritrean troops in the Tigray region, now accused of overseeing mass killings during the operation. Internally, Ethiopia is also facing the worst ethnic cleansing in so many years.
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