By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Seventy-seven South Africans are stranded in Sudan without electricity and unstable internet connections amid fighting in the capital, Khartoum, the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (Dirco) said.
Dirco spokesperson Clayson Monyela said, the implementation of an evacuation strategy was at an advanced stage.
“Our security agencies are far advanced with the evacuation plan. Fighting hasn’t stopped, so it remains a dangerous and risky operation,” he added.
“The airport is closed and all routes are not risk- free. The government is doing everything possible to get our nationals out. Without revealing security plans, there’s an option that is being implemented. Updates will be provided,” Monyela said.
Monyela added Dirco was communicating with South African nationals through a WhatsApp group, which included embassy staff who were also stuck in Sudan.
France, Italy, Turkey and the United States have all evacuated their citizens from Sudan.
Numerous reports indicated that fighting was continuing, despite a call from the United Nations (UN), African Union (AU) and other regional blocs for a mini ceasefire during Eid-ul-Fitr celebrations, which mark the end of the Islamic month of Ramadan.
Eight days ago, fighting broke out between the army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) paramilitary group, resulting in the death of 420 people and the isolation of millions of Sudanese people, without access to essential services.
Meanwhile the EU will continue to seek a political settlement to the conflict in Sudan despite the fact that diplomatic staff and other EU citizens have been pulled out of the country.
EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said “we cannot afford that Sudan implodes because it would send shockwaves throughout the whole of Africa”.
His comments came before a meeting of EU foreign ministers today.
Borrell added that the EU’s ambassador to Sudan was still in the country.
“The captain is the last one leaving the ship. He is in Sudan but no longer in Khartoum,” he said.