The Ethiopian ambassador in Khartoum has been summoned by the government to explain claims he made that a plane shot down by his country’s military had originated from Sudanese airspace, APA can report on Wednesday.
Khartoum said it was taking exception to the remarks by ambassador Yibeltal Aemero Alemu while confirming that a plane thought to be laden with arms destined for the rebel Tigray People’s Liberation Front had been shot down by Ethiopian federal forces.
“With regards to the plane that passed through Sudanese airspace to Ethiopian airspace and was brought down by the Ethiopian army there is no doubt that the news is true” Ambassador Alemu had told reporters in Khartoum on Monday.
Alemu was summoned by the Khartoum government on Tuesday to ”clarify” what he meant by mentioning Sudan as the origin of the plane, a claim maintained by the Ethiopian air force.
It said the plane had encroached on Ethiopian airspace via Sudan whose government Addis Ababa had accused of backing the TPLF insurgency, an accusation Khartoum has denied.
Reacting to Alemu’s statement, Sudan’s Director of African Affairs, Fadl Abdallah Fadl, described it as unfounded allegations which violates what he called diplomatic custom between neighbours.
Addis Ababa has not commented.
It comes against the backdrop of renewed hostility between the Ethiopian federal forces and TPLF rebels in Tigray after a truce lasting several months.
WN/as/APA