U.S. diplomats have departed Sudan’s airspace, days after fighting erupted in the north African nation.
President Joe Biden said he ordered the evacuation operation to “extract” U.S. government personnel late Saturday. The evacuation order applies to about 70 Americans, one official with knowledge of the matter said, adding that there still are no plans for a government-coordinated evacuation of U.S. citizens in Sudan.
“I am receiving regular reports from my team on their ongoing work to assist Americans in Sudan, to the extent possible,” Biden said in a statement. “We are also working closely with our allies and partners in this effort.”
The operation to evacuate Americans from Sudan, where hundreds of lives have been lost since internal conflict erupted last weekend, was assisted by Djibouti, Ethiopia, and Saudi Arabia, according to the White House statement.
While diplomats earlier Saturday downplayed suggestions that departures were imminent, Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan, the head of Sudan’s armed forces, said he had agreed to aid the repatriation of foreign nationals after receiving calls from several leaders. The Rapid Support Forces, a paramilitary group that has been fighting the military, on Friday also gave assurances it would support the process.
The U.S. embassy in Sudan earlier said that despite the start of a three-day cease-fire there was ongoing fighting, gunfire, and security forces activity in Khartoum, the capital, as well as reports of assaults, home invasions and looting. It advised U.S. citizens to remain indoors and shelter in place until further notice and avoid traveling to the embassy.
The U.S. embassy in Khartoum has suspended operations, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a separate statement, noting the evacuation of all embassy personnel and dependents.
“I directed this temporary action due to the serious and growing security risks created by the conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces,” Blinken said. “The widespread fighting has caused significant numbers of civilian deaths and injuries and damage to essential infrastructure and posed an unacceptable risk to our Embassy personnel.”
At least 413 people have died in the fighting in Sudan and almost 3,551 have been wounded, according to the World Health Organization, and many people have run short of food, water and other essentials. While the violence has subsided since the ceasefire was agreed on Friday, sporadic sounds of gunfire and explosions could still be heard in Khartoum.
“This tragic violence in Sudan has already cost the lives of hundreds of innocent civilians,” Biden said in the statement. “It’s unconscionable and it must stop.”
