Sudan’s TASIS-backed Government of Peace and Unity has welcomed Ethiopia’s decision to close the Sudanese consulate in Assosa, calling for greater international diplomatic pressure on the military-aligned authorities in Port Sudan.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the government’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation described Ethiopia’s decision as a positive development for relations between the two countries.
The ministry accused the Port Sudan authorities and groups linked to Sudan’s Islamist movement of exploiting diplomatic missions to pursue political objectives and contribute to regional tensions.
It said the TASIS administration remained committed to building stronger relations with Ethiopia based on mutual interests, cooperation and respect for regional stability.
The statement also challenged the legitimacy of the Port Sudan authorities, arguing that continued diplomatic engagement with the military-aligned administration risked reinforcing a political order that did not reflect the aspirations of the Sudanese people.
Calls for international diplomatic reassessment
The ministry urged regional and international governments to reconsider their approach towards Port Sudan, accusing the military leadership of undermining Sudan’s political transition and prolonging the country’s conflict.
It called for stronger diplomatic measures against the authorities, which TASIS maintains are operating under the influence of elements associated with the former Islamist government.
The statement comes amid escalating diplomatic tensions between Sudan and Ethiopia following a series of mutual expulsions.
Ethiopia ordered six Sudanese diplomatic personnel stationed at the consulate in Assosa, in the Benishangul-Gumuz region near the Sudanese border, to leave the country within 48 hours.
The Port Sudan authorities subsequently announced the closure of Ethiopia’s consulate in Gedaref and ordered its diplomatic personnel to leave.
According to Reuters, Ethiopian officials did not publicly provide a reason for the decision to close the Assosa consulate.
The dispute follows accusations by Port Sudan that Ethiopia has allowed RSF operations, including drone attacks against Sudanese infrastructure, to originate from Ethiopian territory.
Addis Ababa denies supporting the RSF and has separately accused Sudan of backing armed groups involved in Ethiopia’s internal conflict. Sudan has rejected those allegations.
The diplomatic confrontation has raised concerns about further instability along the shared border as fighting intensifies in Sudan’s Blue Nile region.
The TASIS administration, headquartered in Nyala, has pursued its own diplomatic contacts while seeking international engagement with its Government of Peace and Unity.
Its latest statement highlights the competing diplomatic positions of TASIS and the Port Sudan authorities as Sudan’s conflict increasingly affects relations with neighbouring countries.
