German Evacuation From Sudan Halted as Heavy Fighting Continues

Berlin/ Dakar — The German government has cancelled a planned evacuation of German citizens from Sudan for the time being because of the security situation in the country.

"The federal government condemns the fighting in Sudan in the strongest possible terms. We are appalled by the extent of the violence, especially against civilians, diplomats and aid workers," deputy government spokesman Wolfgang Büchner said in Berlin.

The focus was on the protection of human lives and a de-escalation of the situation, he said, adding that it was important that the parties to the conflict agree on an immediate ceasefire and adhere to it.

A plan for the deployment of military aircraft to Khartoum on Wednesday was stopped because of the security situation in the capital, dpa learned.

The planes had taken off from Wunstorf near Hanover in the early morning. The three A400M military transports flew over Italy and took on fresh fuel in Greece. Military aircraft from other nations were also on standby in the region in case the situation on the ground allowed it.

The German citizens were originally to be taken on board at the embattled Khartoum airport, and then returned via the Al-Asrak airbase in Jordan, which is used by the Bundeswehr. On Wednesday afternoon, however, the Bundeswehr aircraft were on their way back to Germany.

The airport in the capital has been at the centre of fighting that broke out on Saturday between Sudan's two most powerful generals and their units.

De facto president Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, who is also commander-in-chief of the army, is fighting with the military against his deputy Mohammed Hamdan Daglo, the leader of the powerful paramilitary group Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

"The fighting is very heavy between rival groups and militaries. There is looting all over the country, gunfire, explosions not only in Khartoum but, as I said, also in other cities in Sudan," a spokeswoman said in Berlin on Wednesday.

She spoke of a very confusing situation that was very dangerous for all concerned. Since the weekend, the German government's crisis team has been meeting daily at the Foreign Office.

According to a spokesperson on Monday, a "low three-digit number" of German nationals had registered in Sudan to be on the Foreign Office's so-called crisis precaution list.

"But experience shows that in such conflict and crisis situations the number fluctuates very strongly and can also go up further at any time," she said.

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