Sudan Army has launched a crackdown on Ethiopians. More than 15 Ethiopian refugees were detained this week in Sudanese state bordering Ethiopia.
“The military has launched an operation against foreigners living illegally in Sudan to enhance security and stability,” Sudan army said in a statement. The crackdown is underway in Gedaref state of Sudan which shares border with Ethiopia. Dozens of foreigners from Ethiopia, South Sudan and other countries were checked by Gedaref authorities in recent days. Those found without proper documents were arrested.
Last week, Sudanese government criticized Ethiopia for not protecting Sudanese refugees in Ethiopia. Since the start of war in Sudan in April 2023, more than 30,000 Sudanese refugees entered Ethiopia. The Sudanese refugees are staying at two camps in Amhara and Benishangul Gumuz regions of Ethiopia, which share border with Sudan. More than 60,000 Ethiopian refugees crossed into Sudan during the two year long war in Ethiopia which ended in November 2022. The Ethiopian refugees are still in Sudan. Both countries are hosting each other’s refugees.
In a statement earlier this month, UN High Commission for Refugees revealed that Sudanese refugees in Ethiopia had come under an attack by an Amhara militia. Thousands of refugees fled the Kumer refugee camp in Amhara after the attack. Ethiopian security forces detained the refugees and brought them back to the camp. The refugees staged a sit in after that demanding to go back to Sudan. The refugees at both Kumer camp in Amhara and Awlala camp in Benishangul Gumuz have been complaining of lack of food and healthcare services.
Ethiopian Refugee and Returnee Service responded to UN report by attributing the humanitarian crisis at refugee camps to lack of funds, urging the international community to support Ethiopia.
It seems that the crackdown on the Ethiopian refugees in Sudan is the result of how Sudanese refugees are being treated in Ethiopia. Both Sudanese warring parties, Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), have been accusing Ethiopian citizens of being involved in fighting in Sudan.
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