U.S. evacuated under 100 people from embassy in Sudan

According to U.S. sources, when fighting rocked Sudan on Saturday, all U.S. government employees and a limited number of foreign diplomats were evacuated from Washington’s embassy in Khartoum.

Less than 100 persons were evacuated during the operation, the officials told the press.

John Bass, Under Secretary of State for Management, stated that “we evacuated all of the American personnel and dependents assigned to Embassy Khartoum.”

The embassy, which Washington opted to halt operations on Saturday due to security considerations, nonetheless has a sizable number of local employees assisting it in Khartoum, Bass said.

The Sudanese ruling council’s two formerly partnered leaders’ forces started a bloody power battle last weekend. Washington urged the sides to prolong and broaden a ceasefire for the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Fitr to a long-term cessation of hostilities on Saturday.

Both sides have accused one another of breaking the cease-fire.

The Saturday evacuation operation, which involved just over 100 American special operations forces, started at 3 p.m. (1300 GMT) when American aircraft, including three MH-47 Chinook transport helicopters, took off from a base in Djibouti, stopped in Ethiopia for refueling, and then flew the final three hours to Khartoum.

According to the military, U.S. personnel entered and left Sudan without being shot upon by the fighting factions on the ground and only stayed on the ground in Sudan for an hour before departing once more.

The director of operations at the Joint Staff of the military claimed, “We did not take any small-arms fire on the way in and were able to get in and out without issue.” Lieutenant General Douglas Sims.

Bass said that Washington does not expect coordinating a U.S. government evacuation of American individuals currently in Sudan or in the ensuing days. Washington does not anticipate the security situation in the country changing in the near future.

While avoiding a U.S. government-led evacuation like the one it conducted in Afghanistan in 2021, the American military is exploring methods to help Americans leave Sudan.

The U.S. military may employ drone or satellite photography to identify dangers to Americans traveling on overland routes out of Sudan, according to Chris Maier, an assistant secretary of defense, or it may place naval forces at the Port of Sudan to assist Americans traveling there.

The voyage from Khartoum to Port Sudan, according to Bass, by land appeared to be difficult given the scarcity of fuel, food, and reliably available water. However, several Americans and other nationals had successfully completed the route.

He stated that even while the State Department is not encouraging or directing people to travel that way, they will be looking for ways to assist them in doing so.

Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed offered the full cooperation of his nation for overflight and refueling capabilities in the evacuation mission, according to U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Molly Phee. Ethiopia is located near Sudan and Djibouti.

A two-year battle in Ethiopia’s northern region caused strained relations between Washington and Addis Abeba, which have since being worked to mend.