US Evacuates Embassy Staff in Sudan as Violence Escalates
The United States government has successfully evacuated American government employees from the U.S. Embassy in Khartoum, as violence in Sudan continues to escalate.[0] President Biden confirmed that the U.S. was “temporarily suspending operations” at the embassy, and praised the “extraordinary commitment” of embassy staff who demonstrated “courage and professionalism.”[1] While the U.S. government has not yet made a decision about evacuating U.S. diplomatic personnel from Sudan, preparations are continuing for a potential evacuation. However, there are no plans to evacuate regular American citizens from Sudan at the moment, as the State Department has issued warnings about travel to the country.
The conflict in Sudan has left hundreds of people dead and has derailed the country's transition to democratic rule after decades of dictatorship and civil war.[0] The rival generals who rose to power in the aftermath of popular uprisings that led to the ouster of Sudan's longtime ruler, Omar al-Bashir, in 2019, have been jockeying for power since they orchestrated a 2021 military coup together.[2] The return to civilian rule comes with a decision over which general will be subordinate to the other, sparking heavy fighting earlier this month, and conditions in Sudan's cities have deteriorated.[0]
The U.S. military is moving more Marines towards its base in Djibouti in preparation for a potential evacuation of embassy staff.[3] The State Department had said an evacuation of the estimated 19,000 U.S. citizens in Sudan “is currently not safe.”[3] An estimated 16,000 U.S. citizens are registered with the embassy as being in Sudan, although that figure is probably inaccurate because there is no requirement for Americans to register or notify the embassy when they leave.[4]
The Sudanese army said on Saturday that it would facilitate the evacuation of American, British, Chinese, and French citizens and diplomats from Sudan, while Saudi Arabia and Jordan were already evacuating via Port Sudan on the Red Sea.[5] It said airports in Khartoum and Darfur's biggest city Nyala were problematic, and flights in and out of Khartoum remained risky because of the ongoing clashes.[6] The Sudanese army promised to provide “necessary airports and safe passageways” for foreigners trapped in the fighting, without elaborating.[6]
The U.S. government will continue to assist Americans in Sudan in planning for their own safety and provide regular updates to U.S. citizens in the area, according to U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken.[1] However, due to the current security situation, the U.S. government cannot provide routine or emergency consular services to U.S. citizens in Sudan.[1]
The violence in Sudan has hit civilian infrastructure, including many hospitals.[6] As per the World Health Organization, the confrontations have resulted in the death of more than 400 individuals up until now.[4] Alarmed by the situation, the United Nations' World Food Programme (WFP) in Chad is preparing to welcome at least 100,000 refugees. The turmoil has dealt a perhaps fatal blow to hopes for the country's transition to a civilian-led democracy and raised concerns the chaos could draw in its neighbors, including Chad, Egypt, and Libya.[6]
0. “U.S. government personnel in Sudan to be evacuated, sources say” CBS News, 23 Apr. 2023, https://www.cbsnews.com/news/u-s-government-personnel-sudan-to-be-evacuated
1. “US evacuates American diplomatic personnel from Sudan” CNN, 23 Apr. 2023, https://www.cnn.com/2023/04/22/politics/us-diplomatic-personnel-sudan/index.html
2. “Foreign states begin Sudan evacuations as fighting rages” Al Jazeera English, 22 Apr. 2023, https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/4/22/foreign-states-begin-sudan-evacuations-as-fighting-rages
3. “US and UK troops moving close to Sudan for possible evacuation” The Guardian, 21 Apr. 2023, https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/apr/21/british-council-staff-freed-from-khartoum-offices-sudan
4. “US embassy staff evacuated from Sudan amid fierce fighting” Sky News, 23 Apr. 2023, https://news.sky.com/story/us-embassy-staff-evacuated-from-sudan-amid-fierce-fighting-12863980
5. “Foreigners Trapped in Sudan Conflict to Be Evacuated, Army Says” Bloomberg, 22 Apr. 2023, https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-04-22/foreigners-trapped-in-sudan-conflict-to-be-evacuated-army-says
6. “Rescue of foreign citizens, diplomats expected, Sudan army says” CNBC, 22 Apr. 2023, https://www.cnbc.com/2023/04/22/sudans-army-says-evacuations-of-diplomats-expected-to-begin.html
