Ethiopia expels six Sudanese diplomats amid allegations of RSF support

Ethiopia ordered the closure of Sudan's consulate in Assosa and expelled six Sudanese diplomats on November 4, 2026, amid escalating regional friction. The move follows Sudanese accusations that UAE-supplied suicide drones targeting Sudanese power infrastructure were launched from Ethiopian territory. Ethiopia denies supporting Sudan's paramilitary Rapid Support Forces and accuses Sudan, Egypt, and Eritrea of aiding Tigrayan rebels, triggering widespread fears that regional proxy disputes could spark a wider Horn of Africa conflict.

Ethiopian diplomat expulsions

• ▪Ethiopian authorities ordered six staff members of Sudan's consulate in the western border city of Assosa to leave the country within 48 hours and ordered the consulate closed
• ▪Ethiopian authorities summoned Sudan's ambassador on November 1, 2026 to announce the closure of Sudan's consulate in Assosa, and the six Sudanese consular staff members departed Ethiopia on November 3, 2026

Sudan RSF support allegations

• ▪Drone strikes hit electricity substations, knocking out power and disrupting water supplies and medical services
• ▪Sudan's government filed formal complaints against Ethiopia with the United Nations Security Council and the African Union's Peace and Security Council on November 1, 2026 over alleged drone launches by Sudan's paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF)
• ▪Sudan's Foreign Ministry stated on October 31, 2026 that drones used in attacks on Sudan's electricity infrastructure were supplied by the United Arab Emirates and launched from Ethiopian territory

Horn of Africa conflict

• ▪Amjad Farid, political and foreign affairs adviser for Sudan's Transitional Sovereign Council, stated that Sudan remains committed to defending its territory while attempting to avoid open war with Ethiopia
• ▪Mutual accusations of supporting opposing rebel and military factions between Sudan and Ethiopia have raised regional concerns that Sudan's civil war and the Tigray conflict could merge into a broader war in the Horn of Africa

Sudan civil war displacement

• ▪The armed conflict between Sudan's military and the Rapid Support Forces since April 2023 has displaced over 14 million people, creating a severe humanitarian crisis
• ▪Both Ethiopia and the United Arab Emirates have repeatedly denied supplying weapons or military support to the Rapid Support Forces in Sudan's civil war