Foreign Affairs confirms that Spanish citizens have been evacuated from Sudan

“The @EjercitoAire planes have just taken off from Khartoum with our citizens and @EmbEspSudan on board. Other European and Latin American citizens also travel. No incident in the transfer of our convoy”, the Foreign Minister has published on his Twitter profile. Likewise, he has called for a ceasefire and to resume dialogue in Sudan

Those who travel on Spanish planes are not the first to be evacuated. Other countries such as France, China, Saudi Arabia and the United States have begun to remove their citizens from Sudan, where they have been trapped since the start of clashes between the government and a paramilitary militia on the 15th. The different nations have tried to take advantage of the three-day truce announced between the military rivals, which began on Friday to mark the end of the holy month of Ramadan, and which is practically broken.

Spain has begun this Sunday the evacuation operation of its citizens. Spanish diplomatic sources have confirmed to EFE that the Spanish Army planes have flown to Djibouti and have waited for a safe space to land and start the operation. Two days ago, the Spanish government sent military transport planes from the Air Force to Djibouti as part of the plan to evacuate some 80 people, including Spaniards, Europeans and South Americans, who were trapped in Sudan.

A French citizen was injured this Sunday in an attack against the convoy of the French Embassy during the evacuation of its citizens. The Sudanese Army has accused the FAR in a statement of “attacking the convoy of the French embassy with shots, which caused its return and the interruption of the evacuation process.” The FAR, for their part, have indicated on their official Twitter account that “while the convoy was leaving under the protection of our forces, it was the target of a treacherous attack by the coup forces (the Army), while the FAR They responded to the attack and shot down the plane.”

The United Kingdom Armed Forces have completed “a complex and rapid” evacuation of British diplomats and their families from Sudan, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak reported on Sunday. The president has stated on Twitter that the operation has been carried out “in the midst of a significant escalation of violence and threats to embassy staff.”

Canada, for its part, has informed its citizens that evacuations “are not possible at this time” due to the closure of airspace, while Turkey has also called on its citizens to evacuate them by land to a third country in the next 24 hours. .

Saudi Arabia has been the first country to begin the repatriation of its citizens. A total of 157 people have been evacuated by land to Port Sudan, as reported by the Saudi state channel Al Ijbariya. Among the repatriates is the crew of the Saudi Airlines plane that was shot at the start of the conflict at the Khartoum airport.

US suspends embassy operations

The US has also carried out this Sunday the evacuation of its diplomatic personnel and family members by air, while yesterday Saudi Arabia had done so the day before by land and sea.

US President Joe Biden has announced that the US has proceeded to evacuate its government personnel from Khartoum and has temporarily suspended embassy operations in Sudan. The president has indicated in a statement released by the White House that Ethiopia, Djibouti and Saudi Arabia were “decisive” for this exit to be successful.

“We temporarily suspend the operations of the US embassy in Sudan, but our commitment to the Sudanese and to the future they want is endless,” Biden added in that note, where he says he is “proud” of the work carried out by US personnel. at the diplomatic legation.

Biden emphasizes 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,” he said.

“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 and unconditional ceasefire, allow unhindered humanitarian access and respect the will of the people of Sudan,” Biden said.

This same Saturday, the US embassy in Khartoum had reported that due to the insecurity situation in the city 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 that the North American country He was going to proceed with the repatriation in a matter of “hours”.

The clashes continue

The fighting between the military rivals resumed in Khartoum in the vicinity of the presidential palace, the General Command of the Army and the areas surrounding the Khartoum airport, while a projectile hit a residential neighborhood that caused the death of six people, EFE was informed. humanitarian sources and witnesses.

On Friday, both parties accepted the truce proposed by the UN to stop the fighting for three days, coinciding with one of the most important holidays for Muslims, although it has not been respected, like the other four humanitarian pauses declared since the past. day 15

At least 413 people have died and 3,551 have been injured in Sudan since the outbreak of the conflict, according to the latest count released this Friday by the World Health Organization (WHO).

The fighting that began on April 15 between the Sudanese Army and the FAR, which has led Sudan to suffer one of the worst crises in its recent history, arose after weeks of tension over the reform of the security forces in the negotiations to form a new transitional government.

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