Evacuation of diplomats from Sudan begin after SAF approve process
4 Min Read
The Sudanese Armed Forces are set to facilitate the evacuation of foreigners from Sudan following the announcement of Hemedti made promises to open airports for that process.
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Birdseye view of Khartoum International Airport on Monday after clashes in between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces damaged aircraft and facilities at the airport, 17 April 2023 (AFP)
The Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) have agreed to facilitate the evacuation of foreigners from the country, said a statement citing General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan on Saturday.
The decision came after Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo (Hemedti) leader of the rebel Rapid Support Forces (RSF) made promises to open airports for evacuations.
On Saturday morning, bursts of gunfire resumed, despite a ceasefire announced 3 days ago, after the heavy explosions that had previously rocked the city in recent days had calmed down overnight.
China, the US, the UK, and France, have prepared themselves to evacuate diplomats and other nationals from Sudan's capital "in the coming hours" according to the SAF.
Saudi evacuates diplomats
The SAF also stated that Saudi Arabia evacuated its embassy workers via the Port of Sudan and Jordan is expected to follow suit.
The country's official Al-Ekhbariyah television revealed that "The first evacuation vessel from Sudan has arrived, carrying 50 citizens and a number of nationals from friendly countries."
4 other boats carrying 108 people from 11 different countries are expected to arrive later in Jeddah, according to Al-Ekhbariyah.
Saudi Arabia's Foreign Ministry said that it will evacuate citizens and nationals of "brotherly" countries from Sudan, in a statement on Saturday.
The Ministry announced "the start of the arrangement for the evacuation of Saudi citizens and several nationals of brotherly and friendly countries from the Republic of Sudan to the Kingdom."
RSF ready for peace?
Hemedti announced on Facebook that UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres phone called him on Saturday in which both sides "emphasized the necessity of adhering to a complete ceasefire and providing protection for humanitarian and medical workers."
The RSF said it was ready to allow evacuations and partially open airports that have witnessed fighting between the two sides. However, RSF's control over the airports remains unconfirmed.
Hospitals at risk
Moreover, the healthcare sector in the country has been substantially affected by the clashes. The Sudanese Doctors Union stated that two-thirds of hospitals in areas affected by fighting were put out of service and 32 were forcibly evacuated by armed forces or were closed down after being caught in the crossfire.
Other hospitals that remained in service limited their work to first aid due to the lack of water, staff, and electricity.
The World Health Organization announced on Friday that since clashes broke out, there have been 413 fatalities and 3,551 injuries.
No peace for Sudan despite ceasefire
Al-Burhan's forces declared a unilateral three-day truce starting Friday on the occasion of the Eid Al-Fitr holiday, which marks the end of the Holy month of Ramadan and wished for the RSF to comply with the ceasefire.
Despite RSF agreeing on a ceasefire - starting at 6:00 am local time (4:00 GMT) on Friday - the truce did not hold as the warring sides continued their military campaigns across several regions in the country, mostly Sudan's capital Khartoum.
The army and the paramilitary RSF, which are waging a deadly power struggle across the country, had both issued statements saying they would uphold a three-day ceasefire from Friday for Islam's Eid al-Fitr holiday.
Outside Khartoum in the neighboring city of Omduran, fears arose over the fate of detainees in the al-Huda Prison.
The army on Friday accused the RSF of raiding the prison, in turn, the rebel group denied such charges. Reports from the lawyers of a prisoner detained at al-Huda said that an armed group forcibly evacuated the facility adding that the whereabouts of detainees remain unknown.
Read more: Countries deploy troops near Sudan in anticipated evacuation missions.
