France and its allies evacuate their diplomats in Sudan, in a high-risk mission. This comes a day after US Special Forces airlifted their entire staff out of their embassy.
The French Foreign Ministry said that it is working with “European partners and allies” to coordinate a “rapid evacuation operation”, but did not name the countries involved.
The French stated: “This operation includes both European diplomats and nationals from these countries.”
The Netherlands also said that it will evacuate its citizens and staff of the embassy on Sunday, “with other countries”, without naming any.
The UK was ready to rescue their diplomats as soon as possible from the British Embassy in Khartoum amid the intense fighting between the Sudanese Army and a paramilitary rival group.
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On Sunday morning, a spokesperson said: “The UK Government has worked with a number international partners to provide support for British citizens and diplomatic staff in Khartoum.”
“It’s not our place to comment on the military activities of international partners in Sudan. But we’re fully aware of their plans and are integrated with these operations.”
An unnamed US official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitive nature the mission, said that about 70 American citizens were transported from the landing zone of the US Embassy in Khartoum, to an undisclosed destination in Ethiopia.
UK troops and military planes have moved to a base overseas to prepare for a rescue mission that would involve high risk into a conflict zone, if the order were given.
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Biden’s order amid “tragic violence”
After receiving a recommendation from his team of national security on Saturday, President Joe Biden ordered that the US Embassy staff be evacuated as there was no end to the fighting in sight.
In a press release, Biden stated: “Today the United States Military conducted an extraction operation of US Government personnel from Khartoum on my orders.
“I am very proud of our embassy’s staff who have performed their duties with professionalism and courage. They represent America’s friendship with the Sudanese people and the connection between the two countries.
I am thankful for the skill and dedication of our members who brought them safely to safety. “I thank Djibouti and Ethiopia for their critical role in our operation.”
“This tragic violence has already claimed the lives of hundreds innocent civilians,” he added. It is unconscionable, and it must end.
We are temporarily suspending our operations at the US embassy in Sudan. But, we will never give up on the Sudanese and their future.
The US military only conducts embassy evacuations in extreme circumstances.
The US State Department announced that it had suspended operations in the embassy because of the dangerous security situation.
The statement added that it “continued to assist Americans in Sudan to plan for their own security and provide regular updates to US Citizens in the area”.
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Dozens dead in the past week
World Health Organization reports that fighting between forces loyal two top generals killed over 400 people since 15 April.
In the violence, foreign diplomats or aid workers were killed, injured or attacked in numerous incidents.
The White House said it has no plans for a government-coordinated evacuation of American citizens trapped in Sudan.
The US embassy said on Saturday that “due to the uncertain security situation in Khartoum and closure of the airport, it is not currently safe to undertake a US government-coordinated evacuation of private US citizens”.
The embassy has registered approximately 16,000 US citizens as being in Sudan. However, this figure is likely to be inaccurate since there is no requirement that Americans register or notify them when they depart.
Sudan’s transition from dictatorship to democracy has been stalled by the conflict between General Abdel Fattah al Burhan and General Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo of the Rapid Support Forces.
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Al Burhan announced on Saturday that he will facilitate the evacuation of American citizens, British citizens, Chinese diplomats, and French nationals from Sudan, after speaking to the leaders of various countries who had requested assistance.
In a tweet, the RSF said that it had worked with US forces on their evacuation mission.
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