The US embassy in Khartoum, Sudan, has been closed and all American diplomats and their families have been evacuated from the country via US military aircraft, according to a US official. This move comes in response to the escalating conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which has resulted in hundreds of fatalities and thousands of injuries over the past week.
US military forces were recently deployed near Sudan, prepared to execute the evacuation of the embassy if needed. The situation in the country continued to be closely monitored by US authorities. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken had called for a ceasefire agreement between the warring factions during the Eid al-Fitr holiday, which could have offered a window of opportunity for evacuating American personnel, who had been staying in secure locations since the conflict began.
Despite claims from both the SAF and RSF that a ceasefire agreement had been reached, the fighting has not ceased. Earlier on Saturday, the SAF announced that its leader, General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, had agreed to provide the necessary assistance to ensure the safe evacuation of foreign citizens from Sudan following requests from several heads of state.
The RSF also claimed that they had coordinated with the US on the evacuation, though this information cannot be independently verified. While American diplomats have been evacuated, State Department principal deputy spokesperson Vedant Patel warned that US citizens should not expect a government-coordinated evacuation due to the uncertain security situation in Khartoum and the closure of the airport.
Patel also mentioned that the State Department had been in contact with several hundred US citizens believed to be in Sudan to advise them on security precautions and measures they can take independently. The State Department does not have an official count of American citizens in foreign countries, as registration is not mandatory when traveling abroad. It is estimated that there could be around 16,000 US citizens in Sudan, most of whom hold dual nationality.
Questions and Answers:
Q: Why were US diplomats and their families evacuated from Sudan?
A: US diplomats and their families were evacuated from Sudan due to the escalating conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which has resulted in hundreds of fatalities and thousands of injuries.
Q: How were US diplomats and their families evacuated from Sudan?
A: US diplomats and their families were evacuated from Sudan via US military aircraft.
Q: What is the current status of the ceasefire between the SAF and RSF?
A: Despite claims from both the SAF and RSF that a ceasefire agreement had been reached, the fighting has not ceased.
