– On my orders, US forces carried out an evacuation of US embassy staff in Khartoum, says a statement from President Joe Biden. The evacuation of the United States’ appanage in Sudan took place on the night of Sunday with six aircraft in which American diplomats and their families were transported out. A collaboration between the paramilitary RSF force and US forces. Under 100 people were evacuated, according to Secretary of State John Bass, reports the AFP news agency. At the same time, the United States has made it clear that the country cannot help ordinary Americans with evacuation. There are an estimated 16,000 American citizens in Sudan. The embassy is now closed and it is unclear when the US can resume functions there. On Sunday morning, the AFP news agency also reports that France has started a “quick” operation to evacuate French and European citizens in Sudan. The French embassy is also being evacuated. FIGHTING IN THE CAPITAL: Smoke rises from a residential area in Khartoum. The picture was taken last week. Photo: AFP Norway waits Norway, Sweden, the EU and Switzerland have previously stated that they are preparing for a possible evacuation of their own citizens from Khartoum – but that the situation is still too unsafe. Norway currently has three diplomats stationed in Sudan’s capital, Khartoum. Because of the fighting, it has not been possible to get them out of the country. The situation is too unclear to evacuate all Norwegian citizens, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOF) believes. – There are around 70 Norwegian citizens in Sudan. We are in contact with those who have registered and those who wish to contact the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Also to assess whether they want assistance to get out of Sudan, when the situation permits. The situation is too unclear for us to get it until now, says department director Tuva Bogsnes in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to news. PRIORITIZING DIPLOMATES: Tuva Bogsnes, Director of Communications at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, explains how they work to bring Norwegian citizens home from Sudan. Photo: Snorre Tønset / news – Are you considering helping out Norwegian citizens when possible? – Our main focus now is our three Norwegian diplomats. We are working to get these evacuated and are working on both diplomatic and military tracks, Bogsnes replies. – What does that mean? – This means that we are surveying all possibilities in relation to how to get these three evacuated from Sudan. We collaborate with a number of countries and try to find the opportunities that exist. Sweden opens up to sending armed forces Sweden’s government wants to send an armed force to Sudan to assist in the evacuation of its own and other countries’ citizens from Sudan. Around 100 Swedish citizens are believed to be in Sudan. A dozen Swedes work at Sweden’s embassy in the capital, Khartoum. – Has Norway considered doing the same as Sweden? – I can’t go into details about that, but what I can say is that we are turning every stone in relation to finding opportunities to evacuate. Primarily these three diplomats, but also to prepare the ground for evacuating the Norwegian citizens who are in Sudan, says Bogsnes. – Too dangerous The fighting in Sudan between the army forces of the country’s two most powerful generals broke out on 15 April. Hundreds of civilians have been killed. Fighting has continued after both the government army and the paramilitary group RSF announced a three-day ceasefire. The sound of heavy firing, loud explosions and fighter jets could be heard over many parts of the capital on Saturday. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs believes that it must be calmer on the ground before Norway can eventually evacuate everyone with Norwegian connections. – Now it is too dangerous. It is unclear, and it is not possible to do it now, says Bogsnes to news.
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US embassy in Sudan evacuated – Norway waits – news Urix – Foreign news and documentaries
