Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed met with Sudan’s army chief General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan on Tuesday, marking the first time a foreign leader has visited Burhan in Port Sudan since the conflict between the army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) erupted nearly 15 months ago.
Abiy’s Role in Sudan’s Peace Efforts
Abiy Ahmed, who had previously been perceived as more aligned with the RSF and had hosted its leader Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo in Addis Ababa in December, framed his visit as part of a broader effort to restore stability in Sudan. The ongoing war has displaced almost 10 million people, caused severe food shortages, and threatened regional stability.
Current Control and Conflict Zones
While the RSF controls most of the capital Khartoum and the central and western regions of Sudan, the Sudanese army maintains control over the eastern and northern states, including Port Sudan, which has become its strategic stronghold. Peace talks mediated by Saudi Arabia and the United States in Jeddah broke down last year, and subsequent attempts to revive negotiations have been unsuccessful.
Diplomatic Significance of the Visit
During the visit, images shared by both sides showed Abiy and Burhan sharing a moment of camaraderie, walking hand in hand and smiling. Abiy’s office described the visit as part of ongoing efforts to seek “sustainable solutions for Sudan’s stability.” A source close to the matter indicated that Abiy’s presence on the ground might offer a better opportunity for achieving a breakthrough in the conflict.
Impact of Recent Developments
The visit follows an RSF attack on the southeastern state of Sennar last month, which brought the conflict closer to Sudan’s border with Ethiopia. There have also been indications that the RSF is expanding into Gedaref state, which hosts over 600,000 displaced Sudanese and tens of thousands of Ethiopian refugees.
Addressing Border Issues
Abiy Ahmed addressed concerns over the Fashaga territory, a disputed region between Ethiopia and Sudan. Despite recent reports of Ethiopian Fano militiamen entering the area, Abiy stated that he would not exploit the conflict to resolve the territorial dispute and emphasized that Ethiopia would not take sides in the Sudanese conflict.
Historical Tensions and Future Prospects
Abiy’s visit to Port Sudan is notable given the historical tensions between Ethiopia and the Sudanese army. RSF leader Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, also known as Hemedti, previously chose Addis Ababa for meetings with the civilian Taqaddum coalition, which had been criticized by the Sudanese army. Additionally, there were allegations last year that Ethiopian fighters supported the RSF, though these claims were denied by the UAE, a key ally of Abiy’s government.
Potential for Mediation
The visit raises questions about Abiy’s potential role as a mediator between General Burhan and the UAE, a possibility suggested by Alan Boswell, Crisis Group’s Horn of Africa project director. Boswell speculated that Abiy might act as an intermediary to facilitate dialogue between Burhan and the UAE.
