Germany forced to halt evacuation mission from Sudan – Spiegel

Fighting in the country’s capital Khartoum forced the German military to call off an operation to evacuate about 150 nationals of Sudan on Wednesday, according to unnamed sources quoted by the Spiegel news magazine.

A defense ministry official declined to offer any comment on the story. An email requesting comment from the foreign ministry did not immediately receive a response.

Early on Wednesday, according to Spiegel, the Luftwaffe air force sent out three A400M transport aircraft for the mission. The aircraft had landed in Greece to refuel.

According to the article, the mission was abandoned by the Bundeswehr forces due to reports of fresh fighting and airstrikes above Khartoum.

On Saturday, fighting broke out in Sudan, resulting in at least 185 deaths and derailing a plan for the country’s transition to civilian democracy that was supported worldwide.

In response to worries about the deteriorating humanitarian situation, foreign powers, particularly the United States, have urged for a truce between the army and paramilitary forces.