History
Brothers Beyond Borders: The Unbreakable Bond Between Eritrea and Sudan
By Yemane Abselom
https://redseabeacon.com/brothers-beyon ... and-sudan/
November 4, 2025
The bond between the people of Eritrea and the people of Sudan is a unique one — a relationship that has withstood the test of time, hardship, and political turmoil. It is a bond rooted in shared struggle, mutual respect, and neighborly solidarity that transcends borders and generations.
Shared History of Struggle
Shortly after the start of the British Administration in 1941, Eritreans realized that the British had no intention of granting the independence they had promised in exchange for supporting the defeat of the Italians. Instead, the British dismantled Eritrean industries, selling machinery and infrastructure abroad. The sense of betrayal, sparked the beginnings of Eritrean resistance.
When Britain and the United States handed Eritrea to Ethiopia under a sham federation — one neither respected nor enforced — Eritreans had no choice but to begin the armed struggle for independence. The earliest regions to rise up were the lowlands, particularly the western and northern parts of Eritrea, whose cultural, social, and economic ties were closest to Sudan rather than Ethiopia.
Sudan’s Role During Eritrea’s Liberation Struggle
As Emperor
Haile Selassie launched brutal military campaigns, burning villages and massacring civilians, thousands of Eritreans fled across the border into Sudan. Sudan opened its arms and homes to the refugees. Entire Eritrean families were sheltered, fed, and integrated into Sudanese communities — not as strangers, but as brothers and sisters.
Throughout the thirty years of Eritrea’s liberation struggle (1961–1991), Sudan served as a vital lifeline. The Eritrean Liberation Front (ELF) and later the Eritrean People’s Liberation Front (EPLF) maintained offices, refugee camps, and logistical routes in eastern Sudan. Cities such as Kassala, Port Sudan, and Gedaref became hubs for Eritrean political and humanitarian activity. Sudan served as a transit point for goods, medicine, and aid destined for liberated areas in Eritrea. Sudanese traders quietly assisted by allowing the flow of essential supplies, while Sudanese officials often looked the other way, knowing the justice of the Eritrean cause.
Sudan’s relationship with the Eritrean liberation movements was intricate and often shaped by shifting regional dynamics. In the early years, Khartoum played an indispensable role — serving as a rear base, sanctuary, and supply corridor for both the Eritrean Liberation Front (ELF) and the Eritrean People’s Liberation Front (EPLF). Eastern Sudan became a vital humanitarian and logistical lifeline, sheltering Eritrean civilians and providing strategic depth to the struggle.
Yet, this support was far from consistent. Sudan’s position fluctuated according to the state of its own relations with Ethiopia, which were themselves influenced by the evolving situation in what would later become South Sudan. During the rule of the National Islamic Front after 1989, relations between Eritrea and Sudan deteriorated sharply. At one point, Khartoum aligned itself with the TPLF-led Ethiopian regime through the Sana’a Forum — a trilateral alliance between Ethiopia, Sudan, and Yemen — reflecting the regional rivalries and mistrust that replaced the solidarity of earlier decades.
Sudan’s Unmatched Generosity: A Refuge That Became a Second Home
The love and solidarity of the Sudanese people toward Eritreans never faltered, even in the most difficult times. Their generosity defies simple description; their hospitality and culture of welcome are without equal. From Kassala to Port Sudan, from Gedaref to Khartoum, ordinary Sudanese families opened their homes and hearts to Eritrean refugees, sharing what little they possessed. In towns and villages already burdened by poverty, they shared their bread, their water, and their shelter with Eritrean families who had fled war and persecution.
For countless Eritreans, Sudan became not only a refuge but a second home. Many Eritrean scholars and professionals trace their education to Sudanese schools and universities — especially in Khartoum, where the doors of learning remained open when exile had closed others. The compassion of Sudanese teachers, neighbors, and students left an indelible mark on an entire generation of Eritreans.
Amid hardship, the Eritrean community built enduring institutions on Sudanese soil: schools to educate their children, clinics to heal their wounded, and community centers to preserve their culture and dignity. These spaces, sustained by both Eritrean resilience and Sudanese generosity, became living symbols of a bond that transcended politics and borders — a brotherhood rooted in shared humanity and mutual respect.
Brotherhood During Isolation and Sanctions
When Eritrea faced international isolation and sanctions in the 2000s and 2010s, Sudan again provided a modest but vital economic and social outlet. Low-level border trade between the two nations kept basic goods flowing into Eritrea, when formal channels were blocked. Cross-border markets in towns like Tesseney and Kassala became lifelines for small traders and families. Sudan’s willingness to maintain open communication and trade with Eritrea — despite external pressure — demonstrated a level of friendship and respect that few nations showed.
Eritrea, in turn, stood by Sudan during its own moments of hardship. When Sudan faced internal divisions and civil strife, Eritrea acted as a peacemaker and mediator, helping to facilitate dialogue between Sudanese factions. Asmara hosted talks and encouraged peaceful resolutions, guided by the principle that the peace of Sudan is inseparable from the peace of Eritrea.
Unbreakable Solidarity in Times of Crisis
When the recent conflict erupted in Sudan, the government of Eritrea immediately declared that Sudanese citizens were welcome — not as refugees, but as family in their second home. Eritrea opened its borders and provided assistance to those fleeing the violence, reaffirming a long-standing tradition of mutual care and compassion between the two peoples.
Today, Eritreans everywhere feel heartbroken over the suffering of the Sudanese people, especially the innocent women and children caught in the crossfire. The saying goes,
When your neighbor’s house is on fire, you cannot sleep.
Eritreans cannot and will not sleep peacefully until Sudan finds the peace, stability, and dignity its people so rightfully deserve.
A Bond Forged in Blood, Strengthened by Brotherhood
The Eritrean-Sudanese bond is not a diplomatic formality — it is a brotherhood forged in blood, sacrifice, and shared humanity. From the earliest days of Eritrea’s independence struggle to the darkest days of sanctions and war, Sudanese people have stood by Eritrea even when the government sided with Ethiopia at times. The rivers that flow between the two nations carry not just water, but the history of friendship — a friendship that neither time nor politics can ever erase.
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