The US announced the evacuation of diplomatic personnel from its embassy in Sudan: “We temporarily suspend our operations”

President Joe Biden, announced this Saturday that the US military evacuated its government personnel from Khartoum and temporarily suspended embassy operations in Sudan as fighting between the Sudanese army and paramilitary forces entered its second week.

The move was followed by France, which launched an operation to drive its citizens out of Sudan, where bloody fighting between the army and paramilitaries entered its second week.

The US president said in a statement released by the White House that Ethiopia, Djibouti and Saudi Arabia were “decisive” for this exit to be successful.

The evacuation was led by the United States Command for Africa in close collaboration with the Department of State.

The Sudanese Rapid Support Forces (FAR), as was made clear from Washington, were not involved in the operation.: “They cooperated to the extent that they did not shoot our service members in their course,” said the Under Secretary for Management of the State Department, in a call with journalists. John Bass.

“We temporarily suspend the operations of the United States embassy in Sudanbut our commitment to the Sudanese and to the future they want is endless,” Biden added in the statement, where he said he was “proud” of the work carried out by US personnel at the diplomatic legation.

Biden stressed that he is being informed of the work done to help the Americans in Sudan “to the extent possible.” “We are also working closely with our allies and partners in this effort.“, held.

“This tragic violence in Sudan has already cost the lives of hundreds of innocent civilians. It is inconceivable and must stop. The warring parties must implement an immediate ceasefire and unconditional, allow unimpeded humanitarian access and respect the will of the people of Sudan,” he said.

The Secretary of State, Anthony Blinkenadmitted in another note that although the decision to temporarily suspend the operations of an embassy “is always difficult”, the safety of its staff is a “priority” and that step has been taken in the face of the “growing and serious risks” caused by the conflict.

From Washington it was emphasized that they will continue to help the Americans in Sudan for their “own security” and that they can be informed.

djiboutias noted by the Biden Administration, is considering use their intelligence and means of surveillance and reconnaissance to analyze potential exit routes and detect threats, and the use of “maritime resources” in the port of Sudan is being evaluated to potentially be able to help the Americans who get there.

“We will also continue to coordinate with our allies, as well as our local partners, in efforts to ensure the safety of their personnel,” Blinken said.

The Undersecretary for Management of the Department of State added that some members of other diplomatic legations who were in the United States at the time were also evacuated: “Once at the embassy, ​​we felt it was prudent to take them with us,” Bass said without specifying the number or nationalities.

Total, fewer than 100 people were evacuated and about 100 members of the US forces participated in the evacuation.

This same Saturday, the United States embassy in Sudan had reported that due to the insecurity situation in Khartoum and the closure of the international airport, it was not safe to carry out an evacuation, despite the fact that the Sudanese Army had said shortly before the North American country He was going to proceed with the repatriation in a matter of “hours”.

The combats that began on April 15 between the Sudan Army and Rapid Support Forces paramilitary group (FAR) emerged after weeks of tension over the reform of the security forces in negotiations to form a new transitional government.

Both forces were the architects of the joint coup that overthrew the government in October 2021.

Since the outbreak of the conflict, according to the account offered this Friday by the World Health Organization (WHO), at least 413 people have died and 3,551 have been injured in sudan.

The Pentagon announced on Thursday that it was closely monitoring the situation in Sudan and had deployed troops to the region in case it was necessary to evacuate its personnel from the country, something that finally happened on Saturday.

For its part, France launched a “rapid evacuation operation,” the Foreign Ministry announced on Sunday. The operation also includes citizens of other European and allied countries.

Heavy gunfire, loud explosions and fighter jets were heard in various parts of the capital on Saturday, according to witnesses.

Dagalo said in a statement that he had discussed the crisis with the UN Secretary General Antonio Guterresand that he was “focused on the humanitarian truce, and safe passage.”

Five aid workers, four of them from UN agencies, were killed in the violent clashes.

Two 24-hour truces announced earlier in the week were ignored.

In Khartoum, population 5 million, the conflict has left terrified civilians sheltering in their homes. Many leave only to look for food or flee the city.

The country suffered on Sunday a “almost total” internet blackout, revealed NetBlocks, a London-based organization that monitors network access around the world.

On Friday night, the army accused the FAR of attacks in Omdurman, neighboring Khartoum, where they released “a large number of inmates” from a prison, which the group denies.

Fighting raged in Darfur, where the NGO Doctors without borders (MSF) indicated that its staff is “overwhelmed” by the number of patients with gunshot wounds, including children.

(With information from EFE and AFP)

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