Sudan recalls its ambassador to Ethiopia after targeting the capital's airport
Sudan has summoned its ambassador to Ethiopia for consultations, after a drone attack targeted Khartoum International Airport, amid accusations that Ethiopia was involved in the attack.
Sudanese Foreign Minister Muhyiddin Salem said during a press conference in Khartoum on Tuesday (May 5th) that Ambassador Al-Zein Ibrahim was summoned due to "the Emirati-Ethiopian aggression on Khartoum airport", stressing that the airport is a civilian facility protected under international law, and that targeting it is a clear violation of these rules.
Salem stressed that the Sudanese authorities have "conclusive evidence" that the attack was launched from Ethiopian territory, describing this as a hostile act by a supposedly sister country, noting that two official letters have been sent to both Ethiopia and the UAE in this regard.
Targeting Sudanese military and civilian sites
Sudanese army spokesman Brig. Gen. Assem Awad Abdel Wahab said the drones were launched from Ethiopia's Bahr Dar airport and carried out "hostile" sorties targeting military and civilian sites, including Khartoum International Airport. He added that air defenses were able to shoot down one of the drones on March 17, and the analysis of its data showed that it was "owned by the UAE and used from inside Ethiopian territory," stressing that this aggression represents a direct violation of Sudan's sovereignty.
The development comes hours after the Sudanese army thwarted a drone attack on multiple locations in the capital, while flights resumed at the airport without any casualties.
The UAE had previously denied any involvement in the Sudanese conflict, while Khartoum announced on May 6, 2025, that it had severed diplomatic relations with it, accusing it of arming the Rapid Support Forces.
Egypt condemns targeting of Khartoum airport
Egypt has condemned the targeting of Khartoum International Airport with drones and considered it a "blatant violation of Sudan's sovereignty", warning of the expansion of the conflict to the region after the increasing frequency of attacks and accusations between neighbouring countries.
The Egyptian Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Tuesday, May 5, that its country "condemns in the strongest terms the targeting of Khartoum International Airport using drones, which represents a blatant violation of Sudan's sovereignty, a threat to the safety of civilian facilities, and a violation of the capabilities of the brotherly Sudanese people."
The ministry explained that the attack represents a dangerous escalation that complicates the security and humanitarian situation in brotherly Sudan and hinders serious efforts to reach a humanitarian truce.
Tension in Sudanese-Ethiopian relations
Relations between Sudan and Ethiopia have been witnessing escalating tensions for years, most notably the border disputes in the Fashqa area, where Sudanese forces and Ethiopian farmers exchange control of fertile agricultural land, leading to repeated clashes and civilian and wounded civilians and militants on both sides.
The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) is also adding to tensions, as Sudan fears its impact on its share of the Nile's water and its agricultural and water security.
Since the outbreak of the internal conflict in Sudan in 2023, the border with Ethiopia has witnessed shooting incidents and population displacement, further complicating the situation at the humanitarian and political level, while the United Nations and the African Union continue to call for restraint, the protection of civilians and the cessation of clashes between the two countries.