In Sudan, where ten days of urban fighting have resulted in hundreds of deaths, Britain announced on Tuesday that it had begun “a large-scale evacuation” of British residents.
It comes after accusations in the UK that the government had abandoned British nationals there and after a 72-hour ceasefire between Sudan’s warring generals that was mediated by the United States formally went into force.Following analogies to the haphazard evacuation of Britons after the Taliban in Afghanistan took control of Kabul in 2021, Britain came under pressure to take action.Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced that “the government has started a large-scale evacuation of British passport holders from Sudan on RAF (Royal Air Force) flights.”
Priority will be given to those who are most at risk, such as families with young children and the elderly.
Sunak expressed gratitude to the military personnel, diplomats, and others who contributed to what he called a “complex operation” in Britain.
The UK, he continued, “will keep trying to stop the bloodshed in Sudan and support a democratic government.”
As deadly clashes raged in the capital Khartoum on Sunday, Britain conducted a military operation to remove its diplomats.