US reveals “evacuation plan” from Sudan… and sanctions stance

22nd April 2023

2 minutes read

Sudanese protesters lift national flags as they rally on 60th Street in the capital Khartoum, to denounce overnight detentions by the army of government members, on October 25, 2021. - Armed forces detained Sudan's Prime Minister over his refusal to support their "coup", the information ministry said, after weeks of tensions between military and civilian figures who shared power since the ouster of autocrat Omar al-Bashir. (Photo by AFP)

US State Department spokesperson Hala Griet revealed that her country is seeking to evacuate its citizens from Sudan, coinciding with the 72-hour truce declared between the two sides in the conflict.

This comes as the Sudanese army announced, Saturday, “approval to provide the necessary assistance to secure the evacuation of a number of countries’ nationals and their diplomatic missions from the country,” following the ongoing clashes between the army and the Rapid Support Forces, which left 413 dead, including at least five relief workers, and 3,551 others injured.

Griet noted Washington’s position on the evacuation plan in a number of points, including:

This unrelenting, reckless fighting between the two sides threatens the security and safety of Sudanese civilians and diplomats, including U.S. personnel and humanitarian workers, and must stop immediately because no one will benefit from this violence and it is not in the interest of Sudan or the region.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken engaged with Generals Burhan and Hemeti, urged both sides to observe a ceasefire and welcomed the announcement of a three-day ceasefire during the Eid al-Fitr period.

Everyone’s priority must be to end civilian suffering, so Secretary Blinken renewed his call for both sides to stop fighting — there is no military solution to Sudan’s political crisis.

For U.S. citizens, the U.S. Department of State has updated its travel guidance for Sudan.

We strongly urge American citizens to stay indoors and shelter in a safe place until further notice, and we are in touch with the U.S. Embassy in Khartoum to ensure the security of our employees and any other U.S. citizens.

We consult very closely with other regional and international partners on the situation in the Sudan and call on all parties concerned to renounce violence, return to negotiations and take effective steps to ease tensions and ensure the safety of all civilians, United Nations and international personnel, other diplomatic personnel and humanitarian workers.

Sanctions Position

Foreign Policy magazine quoted American officials as saying that the American administration is considering plans to impose new sanctions on the conflicting military forces in Sudan.

The sanctions package, which is still being drafted, is aimed at targeting Sudanese military leaders and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which have left Khartoum in a state of fighting.

Commenting on the sanctions stance, a US State Department spokesperson said, “Our priority today is a permanent ceasefire and a cessation of hostilities.”

Yes, we have different tools, but most of all, to stop this violence now, we need a permanent truce and we are focusing on this point.