As opposing military units battled in Khartoum on Sunday, the United States and the United Kingdom removed diplomatic personnel from Sudan.
The army-RSF conflict eight days ago resulted in a humanitarian disaster, the deaths of 400 people, and the deprivation of crucial services for millions of Sudanese.
As the chaos increased, countries landed planes and prepared convoys in Khartoum to remove their nationals. Foreigners were injured.
Both sides claimed to have assaulted and damaged a French convoy. The French Foreign Ministry, which had evacuated ambassadors and citizens, remained silent.
According to a French diplomatic source, an airplane carrying around 100 people, including foreigners, had taken off and was en route to Djibouti, with a second jet carrying a similar number set to take off.
Army claims that the RSF robbed a Qatari convoy heading to Port Sudan demonstrating the dangers. An Iraqi citizen was killed in the clashes, and an Egyptian diplomat was wounded.
Some Sudanese believed the contending parties were unconcerned about the safety of natives while expelling foreigners.
“Seeing the foreigners leave made me upset because I see some groups that were helped by the army and RSF, but we keep getting hit,” said Alsadig Alfatih, who left his residence for the first time since the crisis started and said he was going to Egypt.
Germany claimed a military plane had arrived in Khartoum but that it would take time, while Italy said it would carry out many individuals later on Sunday. Ghana, India, and Libya have also promised to repatriate their residents.
During Sunday lunchtime prayer in Rome, Pope Francis called for an end to violence.
On April 15, four years after long-ruling dictator Omar al-Bashir was deposed in a popular uprising, Khartoum, Omdurman, Bahri, and other cities erupted in violence.
The army and RSF staged a coup in 2021 but fell out during talks to establish a civilian government and integrate the RSF with the military.
Special forces from the United States flew MH-47 Chinook helicopters into Sudan’s war-torn capital on Saturday from a base in Djibouti, rescuing fewer than 100 people in an hour.
Officers from the Saudi Royal Navy bring a child onto their ship. Saudis and others are escaping conflicts in Sudan aboard Saudi Navy ships. Sudan, Port Sudan
“We did not take any small-arms fire on the way in and were able to get in and out without issue,” said Lieutenant General Douglas Sims, Joint Staff operations director.
According to Assistant Secretary of Defense Chris Maier, the US military may use drone or satellite photos to highlight threats to Americans moving overland out of Sudan, or it may station naval personnel at Port Sudan to assist Americans arriving.
