The United States Government has given reason why evacuation of its citizens will not be possible at this time in Sudan over the ongoing conflict between Sudanese Armed Forces and Rapid Support Forces which led to loss of lives and property.
Under Secretary for Management, Ambassador John Bass who disclosed this during a briefing on Saturday said the conflict is hot in the heart of the city, concentrating early around the airport and taking that important piece of infrastructure out of the picture.
He explained that the United States temporarily suspended operations in Khartoum, the capital city due to the experience being witnessed by the diplomatic personnel in conducting basic operations and the uncertainty about their availability of supplies like fuel and food going forward.
Amb Bass said, “we reluctantly decided it was time to suspend operations; and with tremendous support from our professional military colleagues, we evacuated all of Personnel and dependents assigned to Embassy Khartoum under the responsibility of the Secretary of State”.
The Ambassador who emphasized that the evacuation operation was conducted by the Department of Defense, spoke on the assertions in social media in recent hours that the Rapid Security Forces somehow coordinated with the United States and supported this operation.
He said, “that was not the case”, adding that the Sudanese forces cooperated to the extent of not fire at the service members in the course of the operation, while submitted that the Forces did so in their own self- interest as anything else.
“The absence of commercial air, charter aircraft capabilities, and the absence of really feasible overland road routes to get out of the country, concluded the only way we could do this safely for all of our diplomatic personnel was to rely on the capabilities of our military colleagues”.
Under Secretary to Management pointed out that as a result of this uncertain security picture, and result of unavailability of the civilian airport, the United States don’t foresee coordinating any evacuation for its fellow citizens in Sudan at this time or in the coming days.
However, he said even at that United States will certainly continue to be in close touch with many American citizens resident in Khartoum and elsewhere in Sudan to give them the best assessment of the security environment.
“And to encourage them to take appropriate precautions to the best of their ability in and around that environment. And we’ve been doing that in close coordination with our colleagues who have a good sense of the environment and the best ways to try to deal with the conditions on the ground”.
Amb Bass spoke further on number of American citizens, other countries’ citizens, who have made their way overland from Khartoum to Port Sudan on the Red Sea, says “it’s appears to be a quite challenging journey given the lack of predictably available fuel, water, food, other essentials.
“And so we’re not recommending anyone undertake that route. We’re not advising anyone to undertake that route necessarily. But we understand if people are going to do that, and we’re going to continue to look for ways to try to help them do that from a distance to the best of our ability”, he said.
Assistant Secretary for African Affairs Ambassador Molly Phee said at the briefing that the US’s goal is to bring an end to this fighting and a start to civilian government.
Adding that at the direction of the Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, they’ve been in close contact with Sudan’s military and civilian leaders to see if they can help them identify a path to extend and expand the Eid al-Fitr ceasefire to reach sustainable cessation of hostilities that includes humanitarian arrangements.
He said further that the Secretary has also been in contact with tge regional and international partners to coordinate pressure on the SAF and the RSF to stop the tragic fighting as well as to collaborate on how best to support each other in helping their citizens.
Amb. Phee recalled on Thursday, at the invitation of the African Union Chairperson, Moussa Faki, Secretary and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres joined other regional and international partners to press for an Eid al-Fitr ceasefire.
“And late last night, Secretary Blinken consulted with Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, who offered Ethiopia’s full support for overflight and refueling capabilities that were critical to the operation’s success. The two also consulted on how to help the Sudanese.
“Ambassador Godfrey, myself, my colleague Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs Barbara Leaf, and others have been engaged all week in reinforcing diplomacy with the Sudanese military and civilian leaders as well as our African, Arab, and other partners”, he said.
He highlighted the collaboration with member-states of the East African regional organization, known as IGAD, as well as the critical role played by the Saudi and Emirati partners.
“While these efforts resulted in some episodic reductions in violence, the indiscriminate military operations have continued and there remains serious distrust between the two forces. Despite these challenges, the stakes are too high for Sudan and for the region to stop trying”.
