Berlin
The planes had long been in the air when the Bundeswehr canceled an evacuation in Sudan. Is Chancellor Scholz planning a new mission?
The Bundeswehr has them Evacuation of German citizens in Sudan canceled. Too risky. Three planes that were already en route to the African country had to return.
Actually, the guns should be silent from Tuesday 6 p.m. This fire break Many states wanted to use it to get their compatriots out of Sudan and bring them to safety. Also Germany. But then new fighting broke out between two of the country’s powerful generals and their units, not least at the airport.
Chancellor Scholz promises that other countries will also help
In the Foreign Office, he decided crisis team then abort the dramatic rescue mission. An estimated 150 Germans are now trapped – in the middle of the combat zone – and fear for their lives. They are mostly diplomats, federal police officers, development workers or UN employees.
Apparently the federal government is considering one new attempt. Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) described the situation in Sudan as difficult and threatening in the evening. The outbreak of violence is also dangerous for citizens of other countries. “That’s why we feel obliged to have the possibility of leaving the country in mind and to help make it work. If we do something, we will never just relate it to ourselves.” Scholz indicated on the sidelines of a visit to Portugal that the Bundeswehr would also help members of other countries.
150 Germans stuck in the combat zone: three scenarios to save them
On the one hand, the embassy in Khartoum has so far been spared. On the other hand, according to “Spiegel” food and water supplies in the diplomatic mission are dwindling. And the situation can continue to deteriorate because both the fighting and the number of Germans affected could increase. Experience has shown that the number fluctuates greatly in such conflict situations “and can go up at any time,” said the spokeswoman for the Federal Foreign Office. Three scenarios are possible:
- The international peace efforts are successful, the conflicts are abating. A ceasefire is reached, opening a window for a controlled rescue operation.
- The situation worsens, an evacuation mission has to be secured militarily. In plain language: by force of arms. The Air Force is discussing using paratrooper units. There may then be coordinated action by several states.
- An approach is no longer possible. German citizens have to leave Sudan by land, for example to the largest port, Port Sudan – 800 kilometers from the capital.
For a robust deployment, the Bundeswehr probably needs a mandate from the Bundestag
On Wednesday, the chances were initially good. Three A400M transporters took off from Wunstorf early in the morning. Destination: Khartoum. After a refueling stop in Greece, the abort of the mission was ordered. For a new mission and then maybe “robust use” the Bundeswehr would probably need a mandate from the German Bundestag.
According to the United Nations, the fighting that has been raging for five days has been at least 270 people killed and 2600 injuredincluding an employee of the European Commission: A Belgian who was shot and seriously injured, but according to the “New York Times” is no longer in mortal danger. (fmg)
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