Sudan Deploys More Troops to Eritrea Border

Sudan says it has sent more troops to its eastern border with Eritrea as tension in the Red Sea region continues to rise.

Early this month Khartoum closed its borders with Eritrea and sent troops to its border region of Kassala, following reports that Egypt has deployed troops in Asmara, Al Jazeera reported.

“Sudan’s national army has sent part of its forces to this area to protect Sudan’s security as we have information that some parties are targeting us,” Sudanese foreign minister, Ibrahim Ghandour, said after meeting his Ethiopian counterpart Workneh Gebeyehu in Khartoum on Sunday.

Ghandour said that they were not talking “about threats to a country per se” but that they have information that shows there are some who would mean them harm.

“This is why we are anticipating whatever danger can come from there,” Ghandour said.

The meeting took place amid deteriorating relations between Sudan and Ethiopia on one side and Egypt and Eritrea on the other. Khartoum has also recalled its ambassador in Cairo following the reports of Egyptian troops presence in Eritrea.

The latest tension was sparked after Sudan signed an agreement to temporarily hand over the Red Sea island of Suakin to Turkey.

Ankara and Khartoum said Turkey would rebuild the ruined, sparsely populated Ottoman island to increase tourism and create a transit point for pilgrims crossing the Red Sea to Islam’s holiest city of Mecca. Turkey is also set to build a naval dock on the island.

Egyptian media criticized the agreement and alleged Turkey would build a military base on the island.