US evacuates embassy staff from Sudan, no current plans for citizens
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Washington says 100 special operations soldiers and three CH-47 Chinook helicopters carried out the mission.
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A US aircrew with the 7th Battalion, 158th Aviation Regiment of New Century, Kansas, operates a CH-47 Chinook helicopter at Fort McCoy in Wisconsin on February 7, 2022. (US military)
The United States military evacuated American embassy staff stranded in Khartoum, nine days after the outbreak of clashes between General Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan's Sudanese Armed Forces and Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo's Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
"Today, on my orders, the United States military conducted an operation to extract US Government personnel from Khartoum," Biden said in a statement, adding that the embassy was "temporarily suspending operations," US President Joe Biden said following the extraction mission.
Biden called for an "immediate and unconditional ceasefire," "unhindered humanitarian access," and respect for "the will of the people of Sudan."
"I am proud of the extraordinary commitment of our Embassy staff, who performed their duties with courage and professionalism and embodied America's friendship and connection with the people of Sudan."
Read more: Sudan extends closure of airspace until April 30
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said he instructed the military to evacuate the American staff and their families due to "serious and growing security risks" that have so far left hundreds killed and thousands wounded with no end in sight.
"We remind both belligerents of their obligations under international humanitarian law, including obligations related to the protection of civilians," he said, reiterating earlier calls to "extend and expand" a ceasefire over Eid Al-Fitr holiday.
During a briefing, US Lieutenant General Douglass Sims said around 100 special operations soldiers conducted the mission and were transported using three CH-47 Chinook helicopters from Djibouti to Sudan passing through Ethiopia. The helicopters remained on the ground for less than an hour during the extraction, he added.
Citizens left behind
On his part, Under Secretary of State John Bass said some foreign diplomats were included in the American evacuation mission, noting that it is unlikely that Washington will evacuate US citizens in the coming days.
"We don't foresee coordinating a US government evacuation for our fellow citizens in Sudan at this time or in the coming days," Bass said late on Saturday night.
He noted that the United States believes that the fighting in Sudan will not end soon but that Washington will do all that it can to rescue the American civilians still stuck there.
The RSF said on Twitter it had "coordinated with the U.S. Forces Mission consisting of 6 aircraft, for evacuating diplomats and their families on Sunday morning."
But Bass denied the claim and said, "This operation was conducted by the Department of Defense and only by the Department of Defense," meanwhile the paramilitary group "cooperated to the extent that they did not fire on our service members."
Read more: Sudan Army says not in control of Khartoum airport
Rapid Support Forces Command
— Rapid Support Forces - قوات الدعم السريع (@RSFSudan) April 23, 2023
Important Statement
Sunday, April 23, 2023
The Rapid Support Forces Command has coordinated with the U.S Forces Mission consisting of 6 aircraft, for evacuating diplomats and their families on Sunday morning.
The Rapid Support Forces has also… pic.twitter.com/D2ILdAnWUM
US President Joe Biden greenlighted earlier the stationing of American troops near Sudan to prepare for a possible evacuation mission, White House National Security Spokesperson John Kirby told reporters.
On Friday, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced that the US military has deployed forces close to the African country and will take action when a decision from Washington is made to evacuate embassy staff.
Deputy spokesperson of the US State Department, Vedant Pate, stated earlier that relevant authorities are in contact with hundreds of American citizens in the African country.
Stranded diplomats
The United States is not the only country whose diplomatic mission is stranded in the wartorn country. Other countries include Germany, Spain, Japan, Switzerland, Sweden, and South Korea, among others.
The United Nations is also trying to find ways to pull its employees - some 4,000 employees, including 800 foreigners.
Sweden and Switzerland announced on Friday that they are considering ways to extract their citizens from Sudan, with Stockholm stating that its embassy staff and their families will be evacuated as soon as possible.
Madrid has deployed a military plane to prepare for an extraction mission of 60 Spanish nationals from Khartoum, while Tokyo said it had moved a military aircraft to a US base in Djibouti and placed it on standby for the nearest opportunity window.
