Sudan sent military reinforcements to its border with Ethiopia after it said an army unit was ambushed in the area by militiamen linked to the Ethiopian army, killing an officer and soldiers.
Sudan and Ethiopia have had a long history of border disputes that occasionally flare into armed clashes.
The latest incident, on Saturday, followed a similar one in May in which a senior Sudanese officer was killed in fighting that forced thousands of Sudanese residents in the border area to flee their homes.
The military did not give details on the size of the reinforcements sent to the border, but it is likely to fuel tension at a time when at least 50,000 residents of Ethiopia’s restive Tigray region have fled fighting between the government and insurgents, and found refuge in Sudan.
The influx of the refugees and the continuing fighting have prompted Sudan’s military to increase its troop numbers on the border with Tigray to stop the rebels using Sudanese territory.
The clash followed a dramatic improvement of relations between Ethiopia and Sudan since the 2018 rise to power of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed in Addis Ababa and the removal a year later of Sudanese dictator Omar Al Bashir.
Border tension adds a new layer to Sudan’s array of problems, which range from a collapsing economy and civil strife to uneasy relations between the military and civilian members of the transitional government that succeeded Al Bashir.
Sudan’s Prime Minister, Abdalla Hamdok, recently visited Addis Ababa and agreed with Mr Abiy to revive a joint committee to negotiate the demarcation of the border.
Mr Hamdok’s government on Wednesday condemned Ethiopian “aggression” and stated its full support for the armed forces' efforts to protect the country’s territory.
Sudan has long claimed that Ethiopia was illegally controlling areas straddling their border.
One of those, Al Fashqah, was wrested from Ethiopian control this month, ending 25 years of occupation.
The neighbours are also at odds over a huge Nile dam being built by Ethiopia.
Sudan maintains that operating the hydroelectric dam without sharing data poses a danger to its own power-generating dams on the Nile and leaves the country at risk of the deadly floods that often hit it in late summer.
It also sets Sudan an extra challenge as its transition to democratic rule repeatedly runs into obstacles with the military and civilian wings of the government.
They publicly bicker over issues including control of the army’s business interests, security in major cities and charges that the generals meddle in foreign policy behind the government’s back.
The latest power struggle centred around a newly formed, 29-member council with the task of planning the transition to democratic rule and resolving disputes between government factions.
Civilian members said the mandate given to the council by Gen Abdel Fattah Al Burhan, Sudan’s de facto head of state, encroached on the authority of the Cabinet and a proposed, 300-seat Parliament.
But the council, on which Mr Hamdok and his backers in the pro-democracy movement sit, met for the first time on Wednesday.
A statement issued after the meeting suggested that the dispute has been resolved.
It said participants agreed that the council’s authority would not encroach on that of the executive branch of government and would instead focus on supporting all parties to guide the country through the transitional period, which ends in 2022.
The council also groups Gen Al Burhan, five other generals and representatives of rebel movements with which the government signed a peace deal in October.
Fighting with My Family
Director: Stephen Merchant
Stars: Dwayne Johnson, Nick Frost, Lena Headey, Florence Pugh, Thomas Whilley, Tori Ellen Ross, Jack Lowden, Olivia Bernstone, Elroy Powell
Four stars
Hydrogen: Market potential
Hydrogen has an estimated $11 trillion market potential, according to Bank of America Securities and is expected to generate $2.5tn in direct revenues and $11tn of indirect infrastructure by 2050 as its production increases six-fold.
"We believe we are reaching the point of harnessing the element that comprises 90 per cent of the universe, effectively and economically,” the bank said in a recent report.
Falling costs of renewable energy and electrolysers used in green hydrogen production is one of the main catalysts for the increasingly bullish sentiment over the element.
The cost of electrolysers used in green hydrogen production has halved over the last five years and will fall to 60 to 90 per cent by the end of the decade, acceding to Haim Israel, equity strategist at Merrill Lynch. A global focus on decarbonisation and sustainability is also a big driver in its development.
Company profile
Date started: December 24, 2018
Founders: Omer Gurel, chief executive and co-founder and Edebali Sener, co-founder and chief technology officer
Based: Dubai Media City
Number of employees: 42 (34 in Dubai and a tech team of eight in Ankara, Turkey)
Sector: ConsumerTech and FinTech
Cashflow: Almost $1 million a year
Funding: Series A funding of $2.5m with Series B plans for May 2020
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Wicked: For Good
Director: Jon M Chu
Starring: Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, Jonathan Bailey, Jeff Goldblum, Michelle Yeoh, Ethan Slater
Rating: 4/5
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MATCH INFO
France 3
Umtiti (8'), Griezmann (29' pen), Dembele (63')
Italy 1
Bonucci (36')
match info
Manchester United 3 (Martial 7', 44', 74')
Sheffield United 0
The candidates
Dr Ayham Ammora, scientist and business executive
Ali Azeem, business leader
Tony Booth, professor of education
Lord Browne, former BP chief executive
Dr Mohamed El-Erian, economist
Professor Wyn Evans, astrophysicist
Dr Mark Mann, scientist
Gina MIller, anti-Brexit campaigner
Lord Smith, former Cabinet minister
Sandi Toksvig, broadcaster
White hydrogen: Naturally occurring hydrogen
Chromite: Hard, metallic mineral containing iron oxide and chromium oxide
Ultramafic rocks: Dark-coloured rocks rich in magnesium or iron with very low silica content
Ophiolite: A section of the earth’s crust, which is oceanic in nature that has since been uplifted and exposed on land
Olivine: A commonly occurring magnesium iron silicate mineral that derives its name for its olive-green yellow-green colour
The biog
Alwyn Stephen says much of his success is a result of taking an educated chance on business decisions.
His advice to anyone starting out in business is to have no fear as life is about taking on challenges.
“If you have the ambition and dream of something, follow that dream, be positive, determined and set goals.
"Nothing and no-one can stop you from succeeding with the right work application, and a little bit of luck along the way.”
Mr Stephen sells his luxury fragrances at selected perfumeries around the UAE, including the House of Niche Boutique in Al Seef.
He relaxes by spending time with his family at home, and enjoying his wife’s India cooking.
Essentials
The flights
Whether you trek after mountain gorillas in Rwanda, Uganda or the Congo, the most convenient international airport is in Rwanda’s capital city, Kigali. There are direct flights from Dubai a couple of days a week with RwandAir. Otherwise, an indirect route is available via Nairobi with Kenya Airways. Flydubai flies to Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of Congo, via Entebbe in Uganda. Expect to pay from US$350 (Dh1,286) return, including taxes.
The tours
Superb ape-watching tours that take in all three gorilla countries mentioned above are run by Natural World Safaris. In September, the company will be operating a unique Ugandan ape safari guided by well-known primatologist Ben Garrod.
In the Democratic Republic of Congo, local operator Kivu Travel can organise pretty much any kind of safari throughout the Virunga National Park and elsewhere in eastern Congo.
Which honey takes your fancy?
Al Ghaf Honey
The Al Ghaf tree is a local desert tree which bears the harsh summers with drought and high temperatures. From the rich flowers, bees that pollinate this tree can produce delicious red colour honey in June and July each year
Sidr Honey
The Sidr tree is an evergreen tree with long and strong forked branches. The blossom from this tree is called Yabyab, which provides rich food for bees to produce honey in October and November. This honey is the most expensive, but tastiest
Samar Honey
The Samar tree trunk, leaves and blossom contains Barm which is the secret of healing. You can enjoy the best types of honey from this tree every year in May and June. It is an historical witness to the life of the Emirati nation which represents the harsh desert and mountain environments
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbo
Power: 240hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 390Nm at 3,000rpm
Transmission: eight-speed auto
Price: from Dh122,745
On sale: now
What can you do?
Document everything immediately; including dates, times, locations and witnesses
Seek professional advice from a legal expert
You can report an incident to HR or an immediate supervisor
You can use the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation’s dedicated hotline
In criminal cases, you can contact the police for additional support
