The evacuation process for foreigners trapped in Sudan since the 15th began this Saturday for some countries such as Saudi Arabia, which repatriated its citizens and other “sister” nations by boat, while the three-day truce between the rivals military, which began on Friday to mark the end of the holy month of Ramadan, is practically broken.
Why the fighting has broken out in Sudan and what is at stake in the region
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Spain, France, China or the United States are some of the countries that have already begun to evacuate their citizens. Canada, for its part, has informed its citizens that evacuations “are not possible at this time” due to the closure of airspace, while the United Kingdom will remove its embassy staff from the country “as soon as possible” for fear to attacks on diplomatic convoys, reports Guardian.
Spain has begun this Sunday the operation to evacuate its citizens from Sudan, as confirmed to EFE by European sources familiar with the exit plans. For security reasons, the sources have not provided further details of the operation underway. The Spanish government sent military transport planes from the Air Force to Djibouti two days ago as part of the plan to evacuate some 80 people, including Spaniards, Europeans and South Americans, who are trapped in Sudan.
A French citizen was injured this Sunday in an attack against the convoy of the French Embassy during the evacuation of its citizens. The Sudanese Army has accused the FAR in a statement of “attacking the convoy of the French embassy with shots, which caused its return and the interruption of the evacuation process.” The FAR, for their part, have indicated on their official Twitter account that “while the convoy was leaving under the protection of our forces, it was the target of a treacherous attack by the coup forces (the Army), while the FAR They responded to the attack and shot down the plane.”
US suspends embassy operations
The US has also carried out this Sunday the evacuation of its diplomatic personnel and family members by air, while yesterday Saudi Arabia had done so the day before by land and sea.
US President Joe Biden has announced that the US has proceeded to evacuate its government personnel from Khartoum and has temporarily suspended embassy operations in Sudan. The president has indicated in a statement released by the White House that Ethiopia, Djibouti and Saudi Arabia were “decisive” for this exit to be successful.
“We temporarily suspend the operations of the US embassy in Sudan, but our commitment to the Sudanese and to the future they want is endless,” Biden added in that note, where he says he is “proud” of the work carried out by US personnel. at the diplomatic legation.
Biden emphasizes that he is being informed of the work done to help the Americans in Sudan “to the extent possible.” “We are also working closely with our allies and partners in this effort,” he said.
“This tragic violence in Sudan has already cost the lives of hundreds of innocent civilians. It is inconceivable and must stop. The warring parties must implement an immediate and unconditional ceasefire, allow unhindered humanitarian access and respect the will of the people of Sudan,” Biden said.
This same Saturday, the US embassy in Khartoum had reported that due to the insecurity situation in the city and the closure of the international airport, it was not safe to carry out an evacuation, despite the fact that the Sudanese Army had said shortly before that the North American country He was going to proceed with the repatriation in a matter of “hours”.
The clashes continue
The fighting between the military rivals resumed in Khartoum in the vicinity of the presidential palace, the General Command of the Army and the areas surrounding the Khartoum airport, while a projectile hit a residential neighborhood that caused the death of six people, EFE was informed. humanitarian sources and witnesses.
On Friday, both parties accepted the truce proposed by the UN to stop the fighting for three days, coinciding with one of the most important holidays for Muslims, although it has not been respected, like the other four humanitarian pauses declared since the past. day 15
At least 413 people have died and 3,551 have been injured in Sudan since the outbreak of the conflict, according to the latest count released this Friday by the World Health Organization (WHO).
The fighting that began on April 15 between the Sudanese Army and the FAR, which has led Sudan to suffer one of the worst crises in its recent history, arose after weeks of tension over the reform of the security forces in the negotiations to form a new transitional government.
Both forces were the architects of the joint coup that overthrew the transitional government of Sudan in October 2021.
