KHARTOUM – As thousands of Ethiopians flee the Tigray conflict into neighboring Sudan, analysts in Khartoum say Sudan could play a key role in the conflict.

Sudan is channeling the refugees — estimated to be at least 20,000 — into the eastern cities of Qaddarif and Kassala, and preparing camps to house them.

Meanwhile, Sudanese Prime Minister Abdallah Hamdok says he called his Ethiopian counterpart, Abiy Ahmed, and said Sudan is taking an unbiased position toward the conflict. He called for African mediation to end the war and start talks between Ethiopia’s federal government and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front.