{
  "id": 18281553,
  "title": "Ethiopia, Sudan close each other’s consulates after civil war rumours",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/05/ethiopia-sudan-close-each-others-consulates-after-civil-war-rumours",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-11-05T08:48:52.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "SABC News",
    "slug": "sabc-news",
    "url": "https://www.sabcnews.com/sabcnews/ethiopia-sudan-close-each-others-consulates-after-civil-war-rumours/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Ethiopia and Sudan closed each other's consulates near their shared border on Wednesday, escalating tensions over accusations that each nation is supporting the other's adversaries. Sudan alleges Ethiopia is aiding the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), while Ethiopia claims Sudan is backing rebels in the northern Tigray region. Both sides deny these allegations, raising concerns that the two conflicts could merge into a larger crisis in the Horn of Africa.\n\nSudan reported to the United Nations Security Council and the African Union's Peace and Security Council on Sunday that it has lodged a complaint against Ethiopia. The claim accuses Ethiopia of allowing the RSF to utilize its territory to launch suicide drones targeting civilian infrastructure in Sudan. The Ethiopian prime minister's office did not provide a comment when approached by Reuters.\n\nIn response, Ethiopia closed the Sudanese consulate in the border town of Assosa and requested the immediate departure of six diplomats stationed there within 48 hours. Sudan subsequently closed the Ethiopian consulate in the eastern city of Gedaref and expelled the diplomats working there. The Sudanese officials, who wished to remain anonymous discussing a delicate diplomatic matter, did not share the reason behind Ethiopia's decision.\n\nEthiopia denies involvement in supporting the RSF during Sudan's civil war. The ongoing conflict has displaced over 14 million people, according to UN figures, making it one of the world's most severe humanitarian crises since it began in April 2023. Ethiopia accuses Sudan, Egypt, and Eritrea of backing Tigrayan rebels who initiated an offensive against government forces in September. All three countries have denied these allegations.",
  "summary": "Sudan accuses Ethiopia of supporting the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}