Farmers and local activists in Sudan’s Gedaref state have reported that Ethiopian militias carried out armed cross-border raids over the weekend, targeting villages in the disputed Al-Fashaga region. These attacks come at a critical time as the country battles war, food insecurity, and a deepening humanitarian crisis.
What happened in the recent cross-border raids?
Residents say several villages, including Wad Kouli, Wad Aroud, and Barakat Nourain, were invaded by militias armed with automatic weapons. According to a 29-year-old farmer from Wad Kouli, “They attacked us yesterday (Sunday) while we were working in the fields. They surrounded the village, opened fire, and stole cattle and tractors at gunpoint.” The attackers then retreated into Ethiopian territory.
A 32-year-old farmer from nearby Wad Aroud recalled hearing gunshots and rushing back home with others, only to discover that “the (fighters) had looted cows and sheep from the village” before fleeing. These raids have left communities reeling and unable to work their fields during the critical July to September sowing season.
Why is Al-Fashaga such a volatile region?
Al-Fashaga is a fertile but long-disputed border area between Ethiopia and Sudan. Both countries have claimed ownership for decades. Its proximity to Ethiopia’s Tigray region, an area affected by conflict since 2020, has made it particularly vulnerable to unrest. The Sudanese government reasserted control over the region in 2020 by deploying troops and displacing thousands of Ethiopian farmers.
The local resistance committee warned that the raids are “devastating for food security and the livelihoods of people in the region.” While no injuries or deaths were immediately reported, the psychological and economic toll is significant. Farmers now fear returning to their fields, which are vital for both local survival and national grain production.
Sudan is currently facing the world’s largest hunger crisis, with nearly 25 million people experiencing food insecurity. The UN estimates that around one million people in Gedaref alone are suffering from acute hunger. These raids threaten to make an already dire situation even worse as the country grapples with internal war and regional instability.
By Lucky Anyanje
