Sudanese journalist advocates dialogue and stronger Sudan-Ethiopia cooperation

Addis Ababa, May 18, 2026 (FMC) — Sudanese journalist Rasha Awad said recent escalation by the Sudanese Armed Forces against Ethiopia does not reflect Sudan’s national agenda, but is instead linked to what she described as an “Egyptian agenda” associated with disputes over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD).

Speaking in an interview with Fana Arabic Podcast, Awad said the recent developments come amid the growing complexities of the conflict in Sudan, which has now entered its fourth year. She noted that the continuation of the war risks creating broader regional and international complications.

Awad stressed that resolving the Sudanese crisis must begin internally through ending the war and achieving peace, warning against the expansion of the conflict into wider regional confrontations.

She stated that the escalation against Ethiopia “does not represent the Sudanese agenda,” adding that there are attempts to push Khartoum into confrontation with Addis Ababa over issues related to the GERD, which she said are “not directly connected to Sudanese interests.”

The Sudanese journalist called on Sudan to distance itself from Egyptian interference and avoid confrontation with Ethiopia, emphasizing the importance of pursuing an independent foreign policy that prioritizes Sudan’s national interests.

Awad further stated that relations between Egypt and Sudan have historically been characterized by attempts to align Khartoum with Cairo’s positions on regional and international matters. According to her, tensions between Egypt and Ethiopia are also reflected within the Sudanese landscape through influence exerted inside the military establishment.

She also urged Sudanese political institutions to reach consensus on an independent vision for the country’s foreign relations, free from external interference and regional polarization.

Awad said some leaders within the Sudanese Armed Forces are attempting to “evade the requirements of internal peace” by externalizing the crisis, calling instead for dialogue and diplomacy over “the language of force and military confrontation.”

She stressed that relations between Sudan and Ethiopia should be based on cooperation, development, and shared interests rather than conflicts that serve the agendas of external actors.

Reported by Ahmed Abdulbar

Edited by Mesafint Brlie