Zimbabwe: Movement for Democratic Change – Tsvangirai (MDC-T) – Statement on the European Union Delegation-MDC T virtual meeting (31.03.2021)

Burundi: Presidence de la Republique – Communique de Presse (29.03.2021)

Sudan: Declaration of Principles between the Transitional Government of Sudan and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement – North (28.03.2021)

North Korea: Press Statement of Permanent Mission of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to the United Nations Office at Geneva and Other International Organizations in Switzerland with Regard to Anti-DPRK “Human Rights Resolution” Railroaded at teh 46th Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (25.03.2021)

Somalia: Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources – Egyptian trawlers indentified fishing within Somalia’s protected coastal zone (24.03.2021)

South Sudan: Ministry of Presidential Affairs – The Minister – Response to the Testimony of Peter Biar Ajak at teh Recent US Senate Foreign Relations Committee Hearing on the ‘State of Democracy in the World’ (22.03.2021)

Malaysia: Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Malaysia Expelled Diplomates of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (21.03.2021)

Malaysia: Statement by the Prime Minister of Malaysia on the Situation in Myanmar (19.03.2021)

Kenya: Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Press Statement on the Maritime Delimitation Case (Somalia V Kenya) at the International Court of Justice 15th – 24th March 2021 (19.03.2021)

Ethiopia-Sudan Tensions: Ethiopia arming the SPLM-N in the Blue Nile State

Sudanese military sources said that the Ethiopian government provided logistical support to Joseph Touka’s forces in Blue Nile, including weapons, ammunition and combat equipment. The sources indicated that the support arrived in the Yabous region on February 27, 2021 AD, and the support was received by Commander Joseph Touka and some of his forces’ commanders” (…) “The sources emphasized that the Ethiopian government aims to use Commander Joseph Touka to occupy the city of Kurmuk with the support of Ethiopian artillery, with the aim of dispersing the efforts of the Sudanese army on the eastern front” (Sudan Plus, 07.03.2021)

Who is Commander Touka? Well, his Commander Joseph Touka Ali, First Deputy Chairman of the SPLM and Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Sudan People’s Liberation Army – North. So, his not a nobody and a high ranking commander in the SPLM-N. 

The SPLM-N killed Sudanese soldiers in early January 2021 in Malkan, Blue Nile State. So, these rebels are still active and it is suspicious that the Ethiopian government is supporting and supplying them with arms. That is a deliberate act to destabilize and strengthening one rebel outfit or militia. I am sure the Ethiopian government would be happy, if the Sudanese suddenly begun to give Samri or the TPLF abundantly arms as well. They would be crying out loud and call it interference in their “internal affairs”.

This is a devious act of Addis Ababa to weaken Khartoum leadership in one of their states. Not only have the skirmishes and battles in the Al-Fashaqa region. They want to intervene and use other proxies in the Blue Nile State.

Since December 2020 … the Ethiopian army have entered into Sudan. They have gone together with the Amhara Para-Military Group “Fano” and tried to take control of border posts there. They have later been beaten back and the Sudanese have taken control of the region again. Therefore, they would maybe prefer having battles on various of fronts. This to weaken the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF). However, they were able to intercept the ploy, but this is worrying.

The worry is that the Ethiopian counterparts are willing to do this. As the Sudanese was doing the opposite when the conflict in Tigray started in November 2020. At that point, the Sudanese intercepted weapons going for the TPLF. They stopped it and confiscated it. While the Ethiopians are doing the opposite. That says it all of their objectives.

This isn’t a sign of brotherhood, but using optional proxy to weaken an enemy. As the Ethiopian army and Fano has already been attacking the Sudanese … so now they are trying to find other ways too.

The Ethiopian government supporting SPLM-N just says it all. They are not coming in peace, but seeking for more bloodshed. Their motivation is maybe revenge of the humiliation at the border in Al-Fashaqa region. They want to annex more land and the Prime Minister Abiy wants to be biggest warlord on the Horn of Africa, apparently. Peace.