Ethiopian army chief General Birhanu Jula on Wednesday blamed a third party for supporting a Sudanese military faction to encroach Ethiopia’s territory.
“The third party wants to disrupt the construction of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) by helping the Sudanese military faction to go into war with Ethiopia,” the army chief told local media.
Even though the army chief did not specify the ‘third party’, he must be referring to Egypt which entered into confrontation with Ethiopia over a massive dam the horn African nation is building on River Nile.
The army chief advised Sudan not to fall victim of a trap set by the third party to enter into war with Ethiopia.
General Birhanu said the third party had used internal situations of both Ethiopia and Sudan as fertile ground to weaken Ethiopia through the Sudanese military faction.
Ethiopia is steadfast to resolve the dispute through peaceful ways for it does not intend to go into war with its brotherly country Sudan, Berhanu added.
The Chief of Staff said Ethiopia and Sudan have had a longstanding friendship which cannot be challenged by their internal problems highlighting Ethiopia’s role in resolving political disorder in Sudan a year ago.
“Border issues between Ethiopia and Sudan are not strange phenomenon but the latest dispute has been magnified due involvement of third party,” the army chief said
According to the army chief, an arrangement is set to be held between the two countries to resolve the border dispute peacefully.
MG/abj/APA