Five Indian nationals evacuated from Sudan, brought to France’s military base

International

oi-Prakash KL

Five Indian nationals have been reportedly evacuated from trouble-hit Sudan and brought to France’s military base in Djibouti, ANI reported citing French diplomatic sources.

Apart from five Indians, there are people of over 28 nationalities. The sources have further said that three flights have brought approximately 500 evacuees to France’s military base in Djibouti.

“French evacuation operations are underway. Last night, two military flight rotations evacuated 388 people from 28 countries, including Indian nationals,” tweeted the Embassy of France in India.

Meanwhile, India has launched Operation Kaveri to bring back Indian citizens stranded in Sudan.

It is pursuing multiple options to bring back 3,000 Indians stuck in the battle-torn Sudan.

“Operation Kaveri is underway to bring back our citizens stranded in Sudan. About 500 Indians have reached Port Sudan while more are on their way. Our ships and aircraft are set to bring them back home. We are committed to assisting all our brethren in Sudan,” External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar tweeted on the evacuation process of Indians in Sudan.

On Sunday, the foreign ministry said that two Indian Air Force C-130J have been positioned on standby in Jeddah and INS Sumedha had reached Port Sudan.

Apart from the Sudanese authorities, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and the Indian Embassy in Sudan are also in regular touch with the UN, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, and the US among others, a statement from the MEA said.

“Contingency plans are in place but any movement on the ground would depend on the security situation, which continues to be volatile with reports of fierce fighting at various locations in Khartoum. Sudanese airspace currently remains closed for all foreign aircraft.

Overland movement also has risks and logistical challenges. Our Embassy is in regular touch with the stranded Indians in Sudan and is advising them on the viability of safe movement and the need to avoid unnecessary risk. It is also coordinating all possible assistance including possible exit from Khartoum city as and when the security situation permits safe movement,” the statement said.

It has to be noted that on Saturday three Indians have been evacuated by Saudi Arabia.

Meanwhile, at least 420 people have been killed and 3,700 people injured in the fighting, Sudan’s Health Ministry said on Sunday.

The fighting erupted between the nation’s two top Generals, who have the backing of tens of thousands of heavily armed fighters, on April 15.

Sudan’s military leader Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and RSF commander Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo were together recently, brought down Omar al-Bashir’s government in 2019 by orchestrating a military coup in October 2021 resulting in the suspension of the constitution. However, differences between the two Generals cropped up during negotiations to integrate the RSF into the country’s military as part of plans to restore civilian rule.