Sudan Violence: Two Indian Air Force (IAF) C-130J aircraft are currently on standby in Saudi Arabia’s Jeddah while INS Sumedha has reached Port Sudan, the Ministry of External Affairs on Sunday (April 23) detailed the preparations for the evacuation of Indians stranded in the conflict. Giving said – hit Sudan.
“Government of India is doing everything possible to ensure the safety and security of Indians stranded in Sudan. We are closely monitoring the complex and evolving security situation in Sudan, the Foreign Ministry said in a statement. The ministry further added that they are also closely coordinating with various partners for the safe movement of those Indians who are stranded in Sudan and want to be evacuated.
MEA is in touch with UN, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, US
It added, “Apart from the Sudanese authorities, the Ministry of External Affairs and the Indian Embassy in Sudan are also in regular contact with the United Nations, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt and the US.”
‘Overland movement has risks and logistical challenges’
It has been said that the Government of India is considering several options to move forward faster as part of our preparations. “Two Indian Air Force C-130Js are currently stationed on standby in Jeddah. And, INS Sumedha has reached Port Sudan. Contingency plans are in place but any activity on the ground will depend on the security situation, which remains volatile with reports of fierce fighting at various locations in Khartoum.
However, Sudanese airspace is currently closed to all foreign aircraft. “Overland movement also has risks and logistical challenges. Our Embassy is in regular touch with stranded Indians in Sudan and is advising them on the feasibility of safe movement and to avoid unnecessary risk. It extends all possible assistance including possible evacuation from Khartoum city Also coordinating, when the security situation allows for safe movement.
Saudi Arabia evacuates people from Sudan
Earlier, Saudi Arabia evacuated about 150 people from Sudan in the first search operation on Saturday. About 91 were Saudi nationals and 66 were foreign nationals, including some Indians. People were evacuated by naval ship. In a statement, the Saudi Arabian ministry announced the “safe arrival” of 91 Saudi nationals and approximately 66 citizens representing the following nationalities: Kuwait, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Tunisia, Pakistan, India, Bulgaria, Bangladesh, Philippines, Did. Canada, and Burkina. Faso.
Meanwhile, the Sudanese army has assured that it is coordinating efforts to evacuate foreign nationals and diplomats from the country on military planes, as the fighting entered its second week. Army chief Gen. Abdel Fattah Burhan said he would facilitate the evacuation of American, British, Chinese and French nationals and diplomats from Sudan after speaking to leaders of several countries who requested help. The prospect has unsettled officials as most major airports have become battlefields and movement out of the capital, Khartoum, has proved extremely dangerous.
about the Sudan violence
Sudan has been witnessing deadly fighting between the country’s army and a paramilitary group for the past six days in which more than 400 people have reportedly been killed. Sudan’s military seized power in a coup in October 2021 and has since run the country through a sovereign council. There has been a dispute between the military and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) over a proposed timeline for handing over power to a civilian government.
The Sudanese army had ruled out talks with the RSF the day before, saying it would only accept their surrender, and on Friday claimed to have cleared RSF positions around Khartoum. With its monopoly on air power, the military appeared to have the upper hand in the fighting, but its claims of advances were impossible to verify. The two generals vying for control of the vast African nation – Burhan and his rival, RSF chief Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo – have tried to portray themselves as supporters of democracy. In 2019, he turned against longtime autocrat Omar al-Bashir and ousted him from power amid a popular uprising against his rule.
The RSF was born out of Janjaweed militias who were accused of committing atrocities in the early 2000s to quell an insurgency in Sudan’s western Darfur region. The current eruption of violence between them comes after Burhan and Daglo walked out of a recently internationally brokered deal with democracy activists to arm the RSF and eventually lead it to civilian rule. Fighting continued to frustrate the nations’ efforts to evacuate their citizens from Sudan.