Ethiopian militias occupy fertile Sudan land as war shifts army focus
The latest claims follow a separate incident on Wednesday when traders in the town of Al-Qalabat reported that an armed Ethiopian group entered Sudan, looted a livestock market, and escaped back across the border.
Ethiopian-backed militias have again moved into contested farmland in Sudan’s Al-Fashqa region, seizing land and forcing out local farmers in what officials say is a growing threat to border stability amid Sudan’s ongoing internal conflict.
Mubarak Al-Nour, the vice president of the Eastern Sudan Coordination Committee, said the militias, with support from the Ethiopian army, have taken over lands previously reclaimed by Sudan’s military in 2020.
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Speaking to Sudan Tribune, Al-Nour stated that Ethiopian farmers are now clearing the land under military protection after displacing Sudanese farmers, taking advantage of the security void left by Sudanese forces that were redeployed to the main war front.
“There is a new incursion by Ethiopian militias into the same lands that were previously recovered by the army,” said Al-Nour, a former member of parliament for the region.
He warned that the timing of the incursion, which comes at the start of the rainy season, could seriously affect agricultural production in the area.
The Al-Fashqa region, known for its fertile land, has long been at the centre of border tensions between Ethiopia and Sudan.
Although Sudan’s army reclaimed large portions of the area in 2020, declaring it had been occupied by Ethiopian settlers for over 20 years, the recent withdrawal of Sudanese troops has left the area exposed.
Al-Nour urged the Sovereign Council and military leadership to act urgently, saying they must take “necessary measures” to restore state presence and secure the border from further encroachment.
The latest claims follow a separate incident on Wednesday when traders in the town of Al-Qalabat reported that an armed Ethiopian group entered Sudan, looted a livestock market, and escaped back across the border.
The series of events has raised alarm among residents and local officials who fear the region could become increasingly volatile if not addressed.
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