Khartoum, 24 April (H.S.). Governments of many other countries are also trying to evacuate their diplomatic staff and citizens trapped in the capital after the US on Sunday safely evacuated American embassy officials amid the ongoing conflict in the African country of Sudan. At the same time, more than 400 people, including 264 civilians, have been killed and more than 3,500 people have been injured in the conflict.
The violence took place despite the announcement of a three-day ceasefire on Eid-ul-Fitr. On the other hand, fighting has started again in Omdurman, a city located near the Nile River from Khartoum, the capital of Sudan.
Amin al-Tayed, who lives in a building in Omdurman, said that we have not seen such a ceasefire. He said there was heavy firing and the city was rocked by explosions. Thick black smoke hung over the airport in Khartoum. The paramilitary claimed the army carried out airstrikes in Kafouri, north of Khartoum, amid fighting with Sudanese military forces. At present, the army has not commented on this.
US special forces airlifted 70 US embassy staff from Khartoum to an undisclosed location in Ethiopia early Sunday, despite a halt to rescue operations after a week of bloody fighting. However, US officials said it was still too dangerous for the government to carry out a coordinated mass evacuation of civilians. Other countries are also struggling to evacuate their citizens and diplomats.
France and the Netherlands said on Sunday they were launching evacuation operations for some citizens of partner countries as well as embassy staff and citizens. French Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Anne-Claire Legendre said France was carrying out the operation with the help of European partners. The country’s main international airport was targeted in clashes between Sudan’s military forces and the powerful paramilitary Rapid Support Force. Several aircraft were damaged and one runway was destroyed, with operations grounded. Operations from other airports of the country have also come to a standstill.
Evacuation by land route is also dangerous due to the conflict. Khartoum, the Red Sea port is about 840 kilometers from Sudan. However, amidst all the dangers, some countries are conducting evacuation operations. Saudi Arabia said that the country successfully evacuated 157 people, including 91 Saudi citizens and citizens of other countries.
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p style=”text-align: justify;”>Saudi Arabia released footage of a large convoy of Saudis and other foreign nationals traveling by car and bus from Khartoum to Port Sudan. These people were transported by naval ships across the Red Sea to the Saudi port of Jeddah. The power struggle between the Sudanese army, led by General Abdel-Fattah Burhan, and the Rapid Support Force, led by General Mohamed Hamdan Dagallo, has dealt a blow to Sudan’s hopes for democratic transition.
Egypt’s foreign ministry spokesman Ahmed Abu Zeid said without giving details that an Egyptian diplomat in Sudan was shot and wounded on Sunday. Many wounded are trapped in the fighting, according to the Sudan Doctors’ Syndicate, which monitors casualties. The organization said the number of casualties could be much higher.
