Sudan Accuses Ethiopia and UAE of Drone Attacks, Recalls Envoy as Tensions Spike

Sudan's armed forces have publicly accused Ethiopia and the United Arab Emirates of involvement in a series of drone attacks that struck Khartoum International Airport and other locations, prompting Sudan to recall its ambassador from Addis Ababa and drawing a formal denial from Ethiopia's government.

The Details

Sudan's military said a series of drone attacks across several states began on March 1, according to Al Jazeera. The strikes, which continued into early May, have targeted multiple locations beyond the capital, raising the prospect of widened regional spillover from Sudan's internal conflict.

At a May 5 briefing, Sudanese military spokesperson Brigadier General Asim Awad Abdelwahab said Sudan had evidence that the attacks in several states beginning on March 1 originated from the area of Ethiopia's Bahir Dar airport and involved UAE-linked drones. The statement marked the first time Sudan had publicly named both countries in connection with the strikes, and it represents the sharpest accusation yet by either side in the long-running conflict.

The most recent attack targeted Khartoum International Airport on May 4, shattering months of relative calm in the capital. The airport had received its first international flight in roughly three years the previous week, after Sudan's army retook the capital from the Rapid Support Forces in March 2025. Sudan's information ministry said the airport would resume operations after safety checks.

Other recent strikes included a May 3 attack on a civilian bus in Omdurman that killed five people, according to the activist group Emergency Lawyers. A separate strike on May 4 in Gezira state killed relatives of army-allied commander Abu Agla Keikal.

At the May 5 briefing, Abdelwahab stated: 'What Ethiopia and the UAE have done is direct aggression against Sudan and won't be met with silence.' Sudan recalled its ambassador from Ethiopia for consultations following the airport attack, according to Diplomat.so. Sudanese Foreign Minister Mohieddin Salem said Sudan would not initiate attacks but was prepared for open confrontation with Ethiopia if necessary, Al Jazeera reported.

Ethiopia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs rejected Sudan's allegations as baseless in a May 5 statement. The ministry said: 'Sudan is serving as a hub for various anti-Ethiopian forces.' Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed leads the government Sudan is accusing.

Reuters said it could not independently verify Sudan's allegations against Ethiopia and the UAE. Additionally, residents told Reuters they believed the Rapid Support Forces were behind the attacks, leaving responsibility for the strikes contested and unresolved.

Context

Sudan's civil war began on April 15, 2023, after the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces split over military integration and a planned democratic transition. The violence has driven millions from their homes and devastated infrastructure across the country, and the conflict remains active despite the army's recapture of the capital in March 2025.

Rights groups including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have separately accused the UAE of supplying arms to the RSF, which the UAE denies, according to Al Jazeera.

Sudan and Ethiopia have longstanding tensions over the al-Fashaga border area and the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam on the Blue Nile. Sudan's legal posture remains a state accusation with no formal case, no charges, no court proceedings, and no extradition request announced, Reuters reported.

No independent public forensic evidence has been made available to verify Sudan's claim that the drones originated from Bahir Dar airport. No direct public response from the UAE government was available in the Reuters report. Al Jazeera cited an unnamed UAE official speaking to AFP. Sources that reported on the accusations include Reuters, Al Jazeera, Al Bawaba, Diplomat.so, and The Irish Times.

What's Next

Sudan has signaled a willingness to escalate diplomatically and, if necessary, militarily. Ethiopia has formally denied involvement and framed Sudan as supporting hostile actors. The competing claims leave the origin of the drone attacks unresolved. The absence of independently verified forensic evidence means the international community has no confirmed basis for attributing responsibility. Sudan's decision to recall its ambassador suggests further diplomatic measures may follow, though neither side has indicated specific next steps beyond the current accusations and denials.