U.S. troops have evacuated American embassy staff members and their families in Khartoum, Sudan amid fierce fighting that has continued for a ninth day. The State Department suspended operations at the embassy due to the dire security situation, with no clear indication of when it might resume functioning.
The evacuation order was believed to apply to about 70 Americans who were swiftly transported by six aircraft provided by the US military's Rapid Support Forces (RSF) during an early morning mission on Saturday. This is the second evacuation of foreign citizens since violence erupted in Sudan's capital last week.
President Joe Biden confirmed news of the successful evacuation in a statement on Saturday shortly after Pentagon officials began verifying reports about the mission. He praised Djibouti, Ethiopia, and Saudi Arabia for providing critical support necessary for the success of this operation.
The Sudanese army stated that evacuations for diplomatic staff from other countries such as China, France, and the United Kingdom are being coordinated in concert with their respective governments. Meanwhile, Canada has advised its citizens in Sudan to "shelter in a safe place." The United Kingdom is considering ways to evacuate its own staff while setting up a hotline for those who need urgent help.
British citizens currently residing or visiting Sudan are urged to inform the Foreign Office regarding their whereabouts as concerns grow over escalating violence between rival military factions threatening to plunge the country into civil war.
Several ceasefires agreed upon by both sides have been ignored so far, including a three-day pause intended to mark Eid al-Fitr-—a Muslim holiday starting Friday—which highlights mounting tensions amidst ongoing conflict within this volatile region.