French soldiers evacuate French citizens, as part of the "Operation Sagittaire" evacuation by the French army, in Khartoum, Sudan, April 23, 2023 (Reuters)
Military flights are being scrambled to evacuate British nationals trapped in Sudan, the UK government has announced.
The planes are due to depart from an airfield outside Khartoum, supported by senior diplomats from the Foreign Office.
Priority will be given to family groups with children, the elderly and those with medical conditions.
French soldiers evacuate French citizens, as part of the "Operation Sagittaire" evacuation by the French army, in Khartoum, Sudan, April 23, 2023.
A 72-hour ceasefire has been agreed after hundreds of people were killed in fighting that first broke out on 15 April.
Rishi Sunak’s government has been under fierce pressure to help British passport holders escape as the war-torn African nation spiralled into chaos.
“At this stage we will contact those who are eligible for evacuation directly and British nationals should not make their way to the airfield unless they are called,” the Foreign Office said.
“The safety of all British nationals in Sudan continues to be our utmost priority and we urge everyone to continue to follow our travel advice.
“The situation remains volatile and our ability to conduct evacuations could change at short notice.”
The Foreign Office is also working with on other potential options to help British nationals leave Sudan, including from “other points of exit”.
More than 400 people have died and thousands injured in a bloody conflict between the Sudanese army and a powerful paramilitary group known as the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
What Is Happening In Sudan?
A power struggle has turned the country upside-down.
General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, head of the Sudan army, has been the country’s de facto president since the military-led coup back in October 2021.
He’s now facing opposition from the paramilitary group the RSF (Rapid Support Forces), a group that entered an alliance with the army back in 2019 when longtime ruler Omar al-Bashir was ousted in a pro-democracy uprising.
The RSF and the Sudanese army then worked together to overturn the civilian government in 2021.
The RSF is led by General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo (also known as Hemedti), who is also the deputy head of Sudan’s ruling Sovereign Council. He is therefore al-Burhan’s deputy, and together they tried to sort out a deal to end the political crisis following the ousting of the last government.
But they have faced weekly demonstrations, isolation and economic woes since seizing control.
Then fighting between the two finally broke out on Saturday following long-running fallouts over how to govern the country.
The rivalry between the two sides has spiralled out of control, with the violence first kicking off at a military base to the south of the capital of Khartoum.
Both sides are trying to claim certain strategic locations like the presidential palace, airports and air bases, for themselves and gunfire has been heard across the country.
Millions have been trapped in their homes by explosions, gunfire and armed fighters, while streets have been looted and hospitals are near collapse.
The clashes have stopped humanitarian aid reaching them too, while there’s a widespread shortage of food, water and electricity across the country.
Some Brits said they felt “abandoned” after diplomats were rescued in a night-time evacuation mission at the weekend.
Others set about organising their own dangerous private evacuations amid the deadly street fighting and a shortage of food, water and electricity.
Foreign secretary James Cleverly tweeted: “The UK government is co-ordinating an evacuation of British nationals from Sudan.
“We have started contacting nationals directly and providing routes for departure out of the country.”
Newer articles:
- US takes leading role on Sudan but faces limited leverage - 26/04/2023 05:42
- Fears mount for Sudan ceasefire as former regime members escape - 26/04/2023 04:46
- UN warns of lab risk, more displacement amid Sudan conflict - 26/04/2023 04:35
- Sudan-fleeing South Africans denied entry at Egyptian border - 26/04/2023 03:38
- South Sudan receives thousands fleeing from Sudan conflict - 25/04/2023 10:18
Older news items
- Warring Sudanese generals pledge to observe three-day ceasefire - 25/04/2023 06:31
- Sudan evacuations: A family’s journey out of Khartoum to Egypt - 25/04/2023 03:09
- Mass exodus of foreigners continues as fighting rages in Sudan - 24/04/2023 07:18
- Air Peace ready to evacuate Nigerians from Sudan for free - 24/04/2023 03:55
- Evacuation plan in motion for stranded South Africans in Sudan - 24/04/2023 03:02
Latest news items (all categories):
- The SPLM ruling party is facing a dilemma and Thucydides trap at a pivotal moment - 24/08/2026 14:06
- Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) countries are making green development an engine of growth - 24/08/2026 13:36
- President Salva Kiir in Pretoria Seeking Support Ahead of South Sudan’s December Elections - 24/08/2026 12:48
- Tambura’s fragile path from conflict to recovery - 24/08/2026 12:45
- South Sudan’s Yei Joint Stars advance to semi final stage of Zonal qualifiers - 24/08/2026 12:43
Random articles (all categories):
- Fears of a second lost generation amid South Sudan conflict - 15/05/2017 09:00
- South Sudan war: Japan opposes arms embargo doubting its 'effectiveness' - 21/12/2016 01:52
- It's a big step forward but COP28 won't stop warming - 13/12/2023 05:18
- Some protesters freed in Sudan after emergency law lifted - 30/05/2022 06:23
- South Sudan deal prompts aid demand - 10/05/2014 13:26
Popular articles:
- Who is the darkest person in the world, according to Guinness World Record? - 25/10/2022 02:34 - Read 148847 times
- School exam results in South Sudan show decline - 01/04/2012 17:58 - Read 27988 times
- Top 10 weakest currency exchange rates in Africa in 2023 - 19/07/2023 00:24 - Read 25080 times
- No oil in troubled waters - 25/03/2014 15:02 - Read 24389 times
- NDSU student from South Sudan receives scholarship - In-Forum - 29/09/2012 01:44 - Read 22334 times
