Ethiopia and Sudan close border consulates as tensions rise

Ethiopia ordered Sudan’s consulate in Assosa to close and expelled six of its staff, officials from the two countries told the Associated Press. Sudan then closed Ethiopia’s consulate in Gedaref and expelled its diplomats, according to Reuters reporting cited by Al Jazeera.

The moves came amid a dispute over Sudan’s civil war. Sudan has accused Ethiopia of being a launch site for drone attacks on its electricity network, an allegation Ethiopia has disputed. The officials who spoke to the AP did not give a reason for Ethiopia’s consulate decision.