Sudan neighbour to fear tiresome bloc returning (7)

I believe the answer is:

eritrea

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'sudan' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both locations as well as being singular nouns.
Perhaps you can see a link between them that I can't see?

I can't explain the remainder of the clue.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for eritrea that I've seen before include "Country bordering the Red Sea" , "It became independent of Ethiopia in 1993" , "State north of Ethiopia" , "Country of northeast Africa" , "Eire art (anag)" .)

I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.

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