Zimbabwe to evacuate emaSwati from trouble-torn Sudan
MBABANE – Life is an unpleasant e[perience in Sudan. It is reported that clashes between Sudan’s military and the country’s main paramilitary force have left at least
dead.
Control of the presidential palace and the international airport in Khartoum is in doubt after disputed claims from both sides, in fighting that threatens to destabilise Sudan and the wider region.
According to correspondents from UK’s Guardian, the clashes erupted amid an apparent power struggle between the two main factions of Sudan’s military regime.
The SudaneseArmed Forces are broadly loyal to General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, the country’s de facto ruler, while the paramilitaries of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a collection of militia, follow the former warlord, General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, known as Hemedti.
This has resulted in the Government of the Kingdom of Eswatini making plans to evacuate emaSwati living in Sudan.
In a press statement,Alpheous N[umalo, the Government Press Secretary, said Zimbabwe has agreed to assist Eswatini with the evacuation of emaSwati who were currently in Sudan and might need assistance to be evacuated or repatriated.
“Government would like to notify the nation that the Republic of Zimbabwe has agreed to assist the Kingdom of Eswatini with the evacuation of emaSwati who are currently in Sudan and may need assistance to be evacuated or repatriated,” stated N[umalo.
So far, he said government has heard from one liSwati in Sudan, who was then safe. N[umalo said Zimbabwe e[pressed willingness to assist any other liSwati that might be in Sudan, particularly around Khartoum, where there was ongoing fighting between the Sudanese Military and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces. “We are grateful to the Government of Zimbabwe for this kind gesture,” the government press secretary said.
He advised that those who might have relatives or acquaintances in need of repatriation should contact Ambassador Gumbo from Zimbabwe on
or Eswatini’s Ambassador to Ethiopia Mahlaba Mamba on
The number of emaSwati in Sudan could not be ascertained.
Sudan, officially the Republic of the Sudan, is a country in north-east Africa. It is bordered with the Central African Republic to the south-west, Chad to the west, Egypt to the north, Eritrea to the north-east, Ethiopia to the south-east, Libya to the north-west, South Sudan to the south and the Red Sea. Sudan was the largest country by area in Africa and the Arab League until the secession of South Sudan in 0 . Meanwhile, CNN reported that the United States (US) Government had not yet made a decision about whether to evacuate US diplomatic personnel from Sudan, but preparations were continuing for a potential evacuation.
This was confirmed to CNN by multiple US officials on Friday.
Officials from the White House, State Department, and Defence Department stressed that they were closely monitoring the volatile situation in the country, where hundreds have been killed and injured since intense fighting between rival military factions broke out days ago.
It is reported that humanitarian organisations have warned of massive consequences if the violence was to continue.
-ohn Kirby, the Communications Coordinator for the National Security Council, said on Friday that President -oe Biden would make the final decision on whether to evacuate American personnel who were posted in the Sudanese capital of Khartoum. “There has not been a decision made,” Kirby said. “It’s just a matter of making sure that we’re ready for it.”
On Thursday, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken urged the commanders of warring parties – the SAF and the RSF – to lay down their weapons this weekend in honour of the Eid al-Fitr holiday, and he reiterated that call on Friday.
Eid al-Fitr is the celebration of the breaking of the fast. It's a special time with the community, family and friends to mark the end of the Holy month of Ramadan and 30 days of spiritual reflection.
Blinken said such a pause in the violence could present an opportunity for the US to get its personnel out of the country.
However, despite claims from both military factions that they had agreed to a ceasefire, there were reports of continued fighting in the capital city of Khartoum, CNN reports.