At least 97 civilian deaths in Sudanese fighting
Governments around the world have issued warnings against travelling to Sudan, and have advised citizens in the country to seek shelter
The advice comes in response to a wave of intense fighting between the Sudanese army and a paramilitary group called the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which began on 15 April.
Since then, approximately 97 civilian deaths have occurred according to one estimate by the Central Committee of Sudanese Doctors released on 17 April.
Due to the intensity of fighting, the situation at hospitals in Khartoum is believed to be extremely difficult, with both staff and medical supplies struggling to reach patients.
The United Nations’ World Food Programme (WFP) has also temporarily halted operations in the country after three of its employees were killed in the crossfire.
Sudan has been ruled by military junta since the deposition of former president Omar al-Bashir in 2019. The RSF is a paramilitary organisation formerly controlled by the Sudanese government.
Following the establishment of the junta in 2019, the RSF was used, in collaboration with the police and National Intelligence and Security Service (NISS), to clear protesters from outside the military headquarters in Khartoum who had been demanding a transition to civilian government. The combined security forces used live bullets, whips, sticks and tear gas, leading to over 100 deaths.
In essence, the current fighting is between two branches of the Sudanese military. While the two sides agreed to a brief three-hour ceasefire to allow for humanitarian evacuations, fighting has now resumed. This includes the use of both air and artillery strikes by the Sudanese military.
Alysia Cameron-Davies explored the challenges of repatriating mortal remains in times of war in the April 2023 Assistance and Repatriation Review.
UK issues travel advisory against visiting Sudan
The UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has also issued a travel advisory against visiting Sudan, stating that: “We are closely monitoring the situation in Khartoum and other parts of Sudan where there are ongoing military clashes. Fighting is now taking place in various locations countrywide.”
The FCDO advised that ‘all British nationals in Sudan’ should ‘remain indoors and follow our travel advise for further updates’. It noted that ‘there have been increased reports of opportunistic crime including theft, muggings and demands for payment at checkpoints in Khartoum and elsewhere’.
The government advised that while the UK Embassy in Sudan ‘continues to offer consular services online and by telephone … consular support in Sudan is severely limited, and the British Embassy no longer registers British nationals in Sudan, and the capacity … to help in times of crisis may be limited’.
The FCDO concluded that UK citizens in Sudan should ‘consider [their] own travel arrangements carefully, and make sure to have up-to-date travel documents and visas in case you need to leave at short notice’.
Indian national killed stray bullet
The Indian Embassy in Sudan also continues to advise that ‘Indians continue to stay where they are and not venture outside’, adding that citizens should ‘stay away from open spaces like balconies or terraces’, and keep essentials such as medicine, water, food, money, passport, and overseas citizen of India (OCI) readily available ‘to ensure easy mobility, when feasible’.
The embassy highlighted the potentially deadly risk to expats and other Indian nationals. It tweeted that: “It has been reported that Mr Albert Augestine, an Indian national working in a DAL Group company in Sudan, who got hit by a stray bullet yesterday, succumbed to his injuries.” It added that it was working with family and medical authorities to make further arrangements on the matter.
US advises citizens to shelter inside
The US Embassy in Sudan is strongly advising all US citizens in the country to shelter in place until further notice, but has stated that: “Due to the uncertain security situation in Khartoum, and closure of [Khartoum International Airport], there are no plans for a US government-coordinated evacuation at this time.”
The embassy added that ‘if evacuation of private US citizens becomes necessary, this announcement will be made public by Travel Alert and Travel Advisory’.
The US government currently has a Level 4 Do Not Travel advisory for the country ‘due to civil unrest’, advising that citizens should ‘reconsider travel due to crime, terrorism, kidnapping and armed conflict’.
France calls for an end to fighting
The French Embassy in Khartoum said it was ‘closely and vigilantly following ongoing events’, and recommended that French citizens exercise ‘extreme caution’ by ‘remaining confined at home’. It added that it was working with the Crisis and Support Centre in Paris to ensure the safety of French nationals.
France also stated that it has ‘deep concern over the violent fighting that has been taking place in Sudan’, calling on army commanders and members of the Rapid Support Forces to ‘end this fighting and prevent any escalation’.