While countries around the world are scrambling to evacuate their diplomats and citizens from Sudan, the Nigerian government has requested a safe corridor from the fighting forces of the Sudanese army and a paramilitary group known as the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
This is to enable the safe evacuation of 5,500 Nigerians, mostly students, from the embattled country.
After a 72-hour cease-fire was reached between the two forces, fighting in Sudan stopped over night. However, a witness reported hearing gunfire on Tuesday as Arab, Asian, and Western countries scurried to evacuate their residents.
The U.S. and Saudi Arabia, according to the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), negotiated the truce. The accord was first announced by U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, who noted that two days of tough discussions led to it. Previous agreements for temporary ceasefires between the two sides have not been kept.
Some nationals were airlifted out of the country, while others travelled by land to Port Sudan on the Red Sea, which is about 500 miles (800 kilometres) from Khartoum.
Here’s where a few evacuations stand:
UNITED STATES
On Saturday, U.S. special forces used helicopters that landed in Djibouti and refuelled in Ethiopia to evacuate American government employees, dependents, and some foreign diplomats from the U.S. embassy. No shots were fired at them.
As fighting continues in Sudan, the United States has been positioning naval assets to assist other Americans leaving the country, but no large-scale evacuation of private citizens is currently underway.
BRITAIN
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced on Sunday that the country’s armed forces had rescued their diplomatic staff and their families from Sudan. The minister of defence stated that they cooperated with the United States and France.
FRANCE
According to Paris, a French plane took 100 people to Djibouti on Sunday. Another plane carrying a similar number was scheduled to depart on the same day, and more operations were set to take place on Monday.
Members of the European Union delegation and a few other nationalities were among those evacuated as part of the French operation.
A French national was injured after an attack on a convoy by both the Sudanese army and the RSF. The French Foreign Ministry has been silent.
GERMANY
On Monday, the German armed forces reported that they had evacuated 311 people from a nearby airfield to Germany. On Monday, the first 101 passengers arrived in Berlin from a hub in Jordan. In total, Germany estimates that there are about 200 German citizens living in Sudan.
ITALY
On Sunday, Italians were evacuated, and Italy had previously promised to evacuate some Swiss, Vatican, and other Europeans as well. The Italian foreign minister estimated that about 60 foreign nationals and 140 Italians would be evacuated via helicopter.
Egypt reported that 436 of its citizens in neighbouring Sudan had been evacuated. Without providing further details, it claimed that one of its diplomats had been injured by gunfire.
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On Monday, two Egyptian security sources reported that the number of people entering Egypt from Sudan had increased to about 800, including about 100 foreigners.
ARAB GULF STATES AND SAUDI ARABIA
On Saturday, Saudi Arabia transported 91 Saudis and roughly 66 people from other countries from Port Sudan to Jeddah, across the Red Sea, in a naval ship.
All Kuwaiti nationals who wanted to return home were reportedly in Jeddah by this point.
Saudi citizens and other nationals are rescued from the conflict in Port Sudan, Sudan, on a Saudi Navy ship.
Qatar claimed that Saudi Arabia assisted in the expulsion of its citizens. A convoy carrying the Qatari embassy on its way to Port Sudan was attacked and looted, according to the Sudanese army. Whether or not this was the same group that embarked on the journey to Saudi Arabia is unclear. Neither the RSF nor Qatar have issued a statement.
RUSSIA
The Russian ambassador in Khartoum reported that 140 of the approximately 300 Russians in the country wanted to leave, but that evacuation plans could not be carried out at this time due to the need to cross active battlefields. He claimed 15 people, including a woman and child, were trapped inside a Russian Orthodox church in the midst of fierce fighting in Khartoum.
DIFFERENT NATIONS
On Monday, Sweden announced that the people working in its embassy in Somalia had been evacuated to Djibouti, along with their families. Military aircraft and personnel were promised to assist with the evacuation of foreign nationals if the situation warranted it.
A total of 343 people, including Jordanians and Palestinians, as well as people from Iraq, Syria, and Germany, were reported to have left Sudan on four planes, according to Jordan.
According to the Libyan embassy in Khartoum, 83 Libyans had made it to Port Sudan to catch flights back home. This number included diplomats and their families, students, and airline and bank employees.
A plane carrying 72 people landed in Spain close to Madrid, the country’s government said. There were 34 Spaniards and 11 people from other countries on board. It was reported that some people were staying in Sudan or leaving via other means. Sixty Spaniards were reported to be living in Sudan by Madrid in the past.
As part of its preparations, India said it had dispatched a naval ship to Port Sudan and two military planes to Jeddah, and it urged its citizens to avoid taking any unnecessary risks.
Tunisia has announced that it will begin evacuating citizens from Khartoum on Monday.
The Lebanese government has stated that it is attempting to rescue 51 citizens from Port Sudan.
On Friday, the South Korean government announced that 25 citizens were to be evacuated from Sudan via military aircraft.
According to Japan, 45 Japanese nationals and their families were evacuated via military aircraft.
Canada has withdrawn its diplomats and announced it will suspend operations in Sudan.
Both Ghana and Kenya said they were taking steps to assist their citizens in leaving the country.
Approximately 5,500 Nigerians, mostly students, have requested a safe evacuation corridor.
The governments of Norway and Ireland have both confirmed their involvement in the evacuation efforts.
About 60 Dutch citizens were evacuated, the Netherlands said, using a combination of a Dutch military plane and flights arranged by other countries. It was reported that passengers from other countries also boarded the departing Dutch aircraft.
Eight Belgians have been rescued so far, with about 30 still in the country, according to the Belgian government.
According to Danish officials, 15 Danes were evacuated and 6 others were offered flights out but declined.
According to Hungary, 18 Hungarians have been evacuated and another 6 are on their way to safety.
Swiss officials have reported that all embassy personnel and their families have been safely evacuated.
About 25 Austrians and their families were reportedly evacuated on German military planes. It was reported that 30 additional Austrian citizens were found to be living in Sudan. (with Reuters’ reports)
