India is preparing contingency plans to evacuate its 3,000-odd citizens stuck in Sudan, where a major conflict has broken out between the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces and the Sudanese Armed Forces.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi directed officials to prepare such plans at a high-level meeting on Friday to discuss the condition of Indians trapped in the African nation. The meeting, chaired by the PM, was attended by External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, Indian ambassador to Sudan B.S. Mubarak, Foreign Secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra, Secretary in charge of Overseas Indian Affairs Ausaf Sayeed, and high level officials from the air force and navy.
Shifting security landscape
“Prime Minister Modi instructed all relevant officials to remain vigilant, closely monitoring developments and continuously evaluating the safety of Indian nationals in Sudan and extending them all possible assistance. The Prime Minister further directed the preparation of contingency evacuation plans, accounting for the rapidly shifting security landscape and the viability of various options,” a press note issued by the government said.
Earlier, Mr. Jaishankar — who stopped at New York en route to Latin America — met with the UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres and discussed the evolving situation in Sudan, among other issues. The Ministry of External Affairs on Thursday cautioned Indians in Sudan about the active fighting raging near the Indian mission in Khartoum and urged them to avoid the embassy for the time being. The Prime Minister was informed about the latest situation on the ground in Sudan where at least 3,000 Indians are caught in a difficult situation without electricity, food and water.
Ceasefire not effective
“During the meeting, Prime Minister Modi assessed the most recent developments in Sudan and received a first-hand report of the conditionson the ground, with specific focus on the safety of over 3,000 Indian citizens presently located throughout the country,” the Ministry statement said.
The situation in Sudan is difficult as a fragile ceasefire announced by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) began earlier today on the occasion of Eid. But latest reports suggest that fighting has continued even after the announcement of the ceasefire. The Hindu had earlier reported that the Indian side is trying to ensure a ceasefire between the fighting sides to safeguard its nationals caught in Sudan.
One Indian killed
India has maintained contact with the U.S., Saudi Arabia, the U.K. and the UAE on this matter. New Delhi has also maintained contact with Egypt to reduce the tension as differences between the RSF and the SAF continued to escalate over “security sector reform” in Sudan.
During the high level meeting, Mr. Modi expressed his condolences on the demise of an Indian national who was killed by a stray bullet during the fighting. He advised continued contact between India and the countries in the region as well as with those that have “significant numbers of citizens in Sudan”.
