Sudan’s already precarious food security situation has taken another hit as farmers and local activists report a series of cross-border attacks by Ethiopian militias in the disputed Al-Fashaga region. These incursions, which have intensified in recent days, are disrupting the critical sowing season, further endangering livelihoods in a country already gripped by conflict and hunger.

According to local farmers speaking to AFP, armed groups crossed into Sudan from Ethiopia, targeting villages along the border with automatic gunfire, looting livestock and vital farming equipment. In Wad Kouli, just 11 kilometers from the Ethiopian border, residents reported being attacked while working in their fields. “They surrounded the village, opened fire, and stole cattle and tractors at gunpoint,” said one farmer, speaking anonymously for fear of retaliation.

Similar accounts emerged from nearby Wad Aroud, where farmers abandoned their fields upon hearing gunfire. Upon returning to their village, they found their livestock gone, looted by the attackers who had already retreated across the border.

The local resistance committee in Gedaref state—where the Al-Fashaga region lies—confirmed the raids on Wad Kouli, Wad Aroud, and Barakat Nourain, calling them “repeated and dangerous violations” that severely jeopardize regional food security and livelihoods. While no casualties were reported, the impact on farming activities has been substantial. With the rainy season (July to September) marking a crucial period for planting, the disruptions come at a particularly vulnerable time.

Al-Fashaga, a fertile border region long contested by Sudan and Ethiopia, has seen sporadic clashes for decades. The area lies adjacent to Ethiopia’s conflict-affected Tigray region and has witnessed significant displacement due to fighting on both sides of the border. Although Sudan deployed forces in 2020 to reclaim territory and secure the area, tensions persist, particularly during agricultural seasons.

Gedaref state is considered a key agricultural hub for Sudan but is currently home to over a million people suffering from acute hunger, according to UN estimates. The wider country is facing the world’s largest hunger crisis, with nearly 25 million Sudanese experiencing severe food insecurity amid ongoing war between government and paramilitary forces since April 2023.

As the situation deteriorates, calls are growing for urgent international attention to protect civilians, support farming communities, and prevent a deepening humanitarian catastrophe in Sudan’s eastern borderlands.