Sudan updates: German forces launch evacuation operation

The German military, the Bundeswehr, has begun evacuation operations in Khartoum, according to the German Defense Ministry.

"The defense and foreign ministries are coordinating together an ongoing evacuation operation for German nationals [in Sudan] in consultation with our partners," the ministry said in a tweet.

"Our aim is to fly out as many citizens from Khartoum as possible in this dangerous situation. As far as possible we will also take EU and other citizens with us," the ministry added.

German news agency DPA reported that German military planes have already set off for Sudan.

Germany's Bild newspaper said that some 100 Germans were on board a plane that took off from Sudan, heading to Jordan. Two more planes were preparing to evacuate more nationals, it added.

Germany has joined a raft of other countries, such as the US, France, the Netherlands and Belgium, who have already started evacuating embassy staff and their families.

Here are the key headlines around the Sudan crisis for Sunday, April 23:

EU mission safely evacuated

The European Union's mission in Sudan was also safely evacuated on Sunday, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell said.

Borrell thanked in a tweet France's Foreign Ministry and Defense Ministry for making the evacuation possible, with help from Djibouti.

The EU ambassador to Sudan continues to work from the east African country, Borrell added. The ambassador was assaulted at his residence amid the clashes last week.

"We remain committed to silencing the guns and helping all civilians who stayed behind," Borrell said.

US evacuates citizens amid conflict

US troops evacuated US Embassy personnel from Sudan on Sunday, more than a week after fighting broke out between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces paramilitary.

"Today, on my orders, the United States military conducted an operation to extract US Government personnel from Khartoum," President Joe Biden said.

He thanked authorities in Djibouti, Ethiopia, and Saudi Arabia for their assistance in the evacuation mission.

Earlier, the RSF claimed it had "coordinated with the US Forces Mission consisting of six aircraft, for evacuating diplomats and their families on Sunday morning."

The operation evacuated fewer than 100 people, US officials told reporters.

About 100 US troops in three MH-47 helicopters carried out the operation.

EU and Saudi foreign policy chiefs discuss situation over phone call

The EU's foreign policy chief Josep Borrell spoke with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud via phone on Sunday to discuss the ongoing situation in Sudan.

"We share concerns on military escalation," Borrell wrote on Twitter, adding that they had "agreed to continue to collectively push for an immediate ceasefire."

UK has 'completed' evacuation, Rishi Sunak says

UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said on Sunday afternoon that British diplomats have all been evacuated from Sudan.

"UK armed forces have completed a complex and rapid evacuation of British diplomats and their families from Sudan, amid a significant escalation in violence and threats to embassy staff," he wrote on Twitter.

"We are continuing to pursue every avenue to end the bloodshed in Sudan and ensure the safety of British nationals remaining in the country" he added.

Sunak also called for both sides "to lay down their arms and implement an immediate humanitarian ceasefire."

Egypt begins evacuation of some 10k nationals

Egypt also said on Sunday it was launching its operation to evacuate its nationals from "safe areas in Sudan." Evacuations would take place in coordination with Sudanese authorities.

The Egyptian Foreign Ministry called on nationals outside Khartoum to head to the Red Sea city of Port Sudan, or the Nile bank city of Wadi Halfa near the Egyptian border, in preparation for an evacuation mission.

It advised nationals stuck in Khartoum to stay at home until the security situation improves and they can be evacuated.

The ministry said earlier on Sunday that over 10,000 Egyptian nationals were estimated to be in the conflict-torn country.

The ministry spokesman added that due to the large number of nationals, "we need an airtight, safe and organized plan to ensure the safety and accuracy of the evacuation."

The ministry said that the diplomatic mission would be the last to leave, after ensuring the safe evacuation of other citizens. 

A member of Egypt's diplomatic mission in Khartoum received a gunshot wound amid the clashes, the spokesman added.

On Saturday, Saudi Arabia evacuated 150 individuals from Port Sudan via the Red Sea, including Egyptians.

Belgium coordinating with Netherlands and France to evacuate citizens

Belgian Foreign Minister Hadja Lahbib said on Twitter that her country was conducting operations in cooperation with France and the Netherlands to evacuate European nationals "as quickly as possible."

Lahbib also called on people in Sudan who have not yet contacted their diplomatic services to do so quickly. "All our services are mobilized to help them," she said.

Pope calls for 'dialogue' in Sudan

The head of the Catholic Church, Pope Francis, has called for the violence in Sudan to stop during his Sunday prayers in Saint Peter's Square in the Vatican City.

"Unfortunately the situation remains grave in Sudan," the pope said.

"That is why I am renewing my call for the violence to stop as quickly as possible and for dialogue to resume," he continued.

"I invite everyone to pray for our Sudanese brothers and sisters," Pope Francis said to those gathered.

Animal rescue center issues emergency appeal

A facility that provides a haven for rescued animals, including 25 lions, is running low on food and power amid the heavy fighting, the Sudan Animal Rescue Center said in an emergency update on Sunday.

"Our stocks of food and drink are beginning to run out," the center said. It also said it had no electricity to power the safety fences around the enclosure.

"One of our main vehicles, which we use to perform our duties, was stolen," they added.

The sanctuary is home to a number of other animals, including hyenas, gazelles and camels.

"We face extreme risks on a daily basis to perform our duties because the sanctuary is located near one of the military bases that witnesses deadly clashes," the rescue center said.

Sweden to send soldiers to aid in evacuation

The Swedish government has agreed to send a unit of up to 400 armed soldiers to support evacuation efforts in Sudan.

The deployment will be coordinated with other countries and will evacuate other foreign nationals as well as Swedes who are trapped in the country.

Details about the deployment were unclear, but the government hinted that the unit could set off for Sudan in the next 24 hours.

Swedish Foreign Minister Tobias Billstrom and Defence Minister Pal Jonson had said on Saturday that they would ask parliament to approve the sending of Swedish forces to Sudan.

Netherlands joins evacuation operation

The Netherlands has joined other countries in evacuating its citizens from Sudan, Dutch Foreign Minister Wopke Hoekstra said on Sunday. "An operation by several countries to evacuate citizens from Sudan is ongoing. The Netherlands is participating with a team from Jordan. They will do all they can to get Dutch people out of there as quickly and safely as possible," he said in a post on Twitter. 

France begins evacuating citizens

France is carrying out the evacuation of its citizens including diplomatic personnel from Sudan, the Foreign Ministry announced on Sunday.

The ministry has begun the "rapid evacuation operation" and that European citizens and those from allied countries would also be assisted, it said. 

One flight carrying around 100 people including other nationals took off from Khartoum on Sunday afternoon, French officials said. Another similar plane was preparing to take off shortly afterwards.

AFP reported that the Sudan armed forces and their rival Rapid Support Forces had "given guarantees of securities" to allow the operation, citing a diplomatic source who spoke on the condition of anonymity. 

The rescue conflict had to go across the capital amid the ongoing fighting to board the flights. Reports suggested the convoy was fired at.

US Embassy operations suspended

The fighting in Sudan "posed an unacceptable risk to our embassy personnel," said US State Secretary Antony Blinken.

Biden confirmed that the evacuation of diplomatic staff meant US Embassy in Khartoum would suspend operations.

"But our commitment to the Sudanese people and the future they want for themselves is unending," he added.

Around 16,000 US citizens were registered with the embassy, but officials said this number is likely inaccurate as US citizens are not required to register their presence in the country, nor are they required to notify the embassy if they leave. 

"This tragic violence in Sudan has already cost the lives of hundreds of innocent civilians," Biden said. "It's unconscionable and it must stop."

Other governments evacuating citizens

The US evacuation comes after Saudi Arabia's Foreign Ministry said on Saturday it had evacuated 91 Saudi citizens from Port Sudan to Jeddah, along with 66 nationals from several other "friendly and brotherly countries."

Sudanese army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan said China, France and the United Kingdom are also set to evacuate their citizens on Sunday.

Spain has deployed several aircraft to the nearby country of Djibouti to facilitate evacuations and Jordan also said it was preparing an evacuation mission with Gulf states.

The evacuation operations were coupled with a relative lull in fighting. It opened a window for bussing Khartoum residents out of the country, the French AFP news agency reported.

Buses, organized by the residents via social media posts, mostly traveled north to Egypt.

United Nations vehicles and buses were also seen leaving the capital toward Port Sudan eastwards, carrying citizens of various nationalities to the Red Sea city which has been used for some sea evacuation operations.

Fighting broke out in Sudan more than a week ago between the north-eastern African country's two most powerful generals and their respective military units.

At least 413 people have been killed and more than 3,500 have been injured since the fighting began, according to the World Health Organization.

ab, zc/sms (Reuters, AFP, AP)