BREAKING NEWS : French Armed Forces launch "Sagittaire" operation to evacuate citizens from Sudan.

April 23, 2023 - The French armed forces announced today via the Twitter account of the "Chef d'état-major des armées" that they have launched Operation "Sagittaire" to evacuate French nationals from Sudan. This action comes in response to the escalating conflict that began several days ago between the Sudanese army and various paramilitary groups. The primary goal of the operation is to ensure the safety and swift evacuation of French citizens caught in the crossfire of the ongoing hostilities.
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French soldiers evacuate French nationals and those from other countries, sheltered from the fighting in Khartoum. (Picture source France Army)

Sudan's sudden slide into conflict between the army and a paramilitary group called Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has stranded thousands of foreigners, including diplomats and aid workers, and countries are working to evacuate their nationals.

Launched at dawn on Sunday morning, April 23, 2023, the evacuation of foreigners threatened by the violent clashes between the army of General Abdel Fattah al-Burhane, Sudan's de facto leader, and the feared paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) led by General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, is set to continue on Monday.

As part of an operation dubbed "Sagittaire", France has successfully evacuated at least 200 French nationals and other foreign citizens. Two French Air and Space Force planes completed a round trip between Djibouti and Khartoum before nightfall on Sunday. The first plane carried 88 passengers, including one injured person.

The morning operation reportedly experienced delays after an initial convoy came under fire in the Bahri district (north of the capital) during an aerial attack by the regular army attempting to repel the RSF. A French national was injured, temporarily suspending the evacuation operation ordered by Paris. Diplomatic and military sources declined to "comment on such rumors" while "the operation is not yet finished."

Such a RESEVAC (evacuation of nationals) could still last for two more days. On the one hand, this is because it is of "extreme complexity" and "can create difficulties until the very end" in a war-torn country. On the other hand, several countries have requested France's assistance in evacuating their citizens, with a diplomatic source listing Germany, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, Belgium, Niger, Morocco, Egypt, and Ethiopia.

On April 15, 2023, armed conflict erupted between rival factions of Sudan's military government, with clashes primarily taking place in the capital city of Khartoum and the Darfur region. As of April 21, the violence has resulted in at least 420 fatalities and over 3,700 injuries.

The hostilities were initiated by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) launching attacks on crucial government locations. Airstrikes, artillery, and heavy gunfire have been reported throughout Sudan, including Khartoum. The RSF has its origins in the Janjaweed militias that were active during the Darfur War.

As of April 21, 2023, both RSF leader Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo and Sudan's de facto leader and army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan claimed control over key government sites such as the general military headquarters, the Presidential Palace, Khartoum International Airport, Burhan's official residence, and the headquarters of the Sudan National Broadcasting Corporation (SNBC).