Heavy fighting is continuing in Sudan’s capital Khartoum between two rival factions that have plunged the country into chaos even as foreign expatriates prepare to flee the battle-scarred nation. The US military has evacuated American diplomats and their families from Khartoum as fighting between rival commanders that has killed hundreds of civilians continues.
Today, on my orders, the United States military conducted an operation to extract US government personnel from Khartoum,” US President Joe Biden said in a statement.oday, on my orders, the United States military conducted an operation to extract U.S. Government personnel from Khartoum in response to the situation in Sudan.
I am grateful for the commitment of our Embassy staff and the skill of our service members who brought them to safety. — President Biden (@POTUS) April 23, 2023The roughly 70 American staffers were airlifted from a landing zone at the embassy to an undisclosed location in Ethiopia, according to two US officials familiar with the mission, news agency AP reported.
US troops carried out the operation as fighting between two armed Sudanese commanders —which has killed more than 400. The fighting, on for two weeks now, has put the nation at risk of collapse.
Joe Biden confirmed the embassy in Khartoum is now closed and said, “We are temporarily suspending operations at the US embassy in Sudan.”He also thanked Djibouti, Ethiopia and Saudi Arabia, saying they had been “critical to the success of our operation”.I am proud of the extraordinary commitment of our Embassy staff, who performed their duties with courage and professionalism and embodied America’s friendship and connection with the people of Sudan,”
Biden said in a statement. “I am grateful for the unmatched skill of our service members who successfully brought them to safety.”Biden ordered American troops to evacuate embassy personnel after receiving a recommendation earlier Saturday from his national security team with no end in sight to the fighting.
This tragic violence in Sudan has already cost the lives of hundreds of innocent civilians. It’s unconscionable and it must stop,” Biden said. “The belligerent parties must implement an immediate and unconditional ceasefire, allow unhindered humanitarian access, and respect the will of the people of Sudan.”