Sudan Accuses UAE and Ethiopia of Orchestrating Khartoum Drone Attacks; Recalls Ambassador, Plans UN Security Council Submission

At a military press conference on May 5, 2026, Sudan's army spokesperson Brigadier General Asim Awad Abdelwahab presented what he described as documented evidence of four drone attacks since March 1, 2026, all originating from Bahir Dar Airport in Ethiopia's Amhara region. The military presented technical data including the serial number S88 — identified as an Emirati-manufactured drone — tracked entering Sudanese airspace from Ethiopia. Sudan's Armed Forces accused the UAE of supplying the drones and Ethiopia of providing the launch facility, framing the attacks as a coordinated escalation supporting the RSF. Sudan's Foreign Minister Mohieddin Salem announced the recall of Sudan's ambassador to Ethiopia for consultations, calling the Bahir Dar launch evidence 'indisputable.' Salem stated that while Sudan would not initiate attacks against other countries, 'whoever attacks us will be met with a response' and said Sudan was ready to 'enter into an open confrontation with Ethiopia if it becomes necessary.' Sudan also announced it would submit additional evidence against the UAE to the United Nations Security Council. This marked a major diplomatic escalation, expanding what was already an internationalized civil war into a direct state-level confrontation. Both Ethiopia and the UAE immediately denied the accusations: Ethiopia's Foreign Ministry rejected Sudan's claims as 'baseless' and accused Sudan's armed forces of supporting 'mercenaries' from the Tigray People's Liberation Front; the UAE also denied any involvement. The US News Wire and South China Morning Post reported that the drone attacks had 'shattered months of relative calm' in Khartoum since the SAF recapture in March 2025.