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Armed forces minister hints at plans to rescue UK nationals in Sudan RAF plane lands in Sudan as UK assesses options for further evacuations
(40 minutes later)
James Heappey says ‘job isn’t done’ in evacuating as many as 4,000 Britons and dual nationals trapped in war zone Armed forces minister says ‘job isn’t done’ in evacuating as many as 4,000 Britons and dual nationals trapped in war zone
James Heappey, the minister for the armed forces, hinted at possible further military action to help Britons trapped in Sudan, and that the UK recognises that “the job isn’t done” when it comes to rescuing the 4,000 or more British and dual nationals trapped in Sudan. An RAF plane has landed at a port city in the north-east of Sudan as a British minister said that the UK was evaluating further military options for rescuing non-diplomats from the country by land, sea and air.
“Work is under way in [the Ministry of Defence] and has been all weekend and the back end of last week to give the prime minister and Cobra options for what else could be done to support the wider community of British nationals in Sudan,” the defence minister told reporters as a storm gathered over Britain’s decision to rescue only its diplomats when other countries were evacuating both diplomats and nationals. A C17 Globemaster is on the ground at Port Sudan with some troops who may form part of a second rescue organised by the UK, following Sunday’s controversial evacuation of British diplomats from the capital, Khartoum, but not other UK nationals.
The minister said that discussions in government were continuing “at pace” and that Rishi Sunak would be given options to help Britons trapped in Sudan “as and when they arise”, but added that there was a concern that the military situation was highly unstable given the fighting between government and RSF rebel forces. James Heappey, the minister for the armed forces, said in a briefing that the UK recognised “the job isn’t done” when it came to rescuing the 4,000 or more British and dual nationals trapped in Sudan.
“Work is under way in [the Ministry of Defence] and has been all weekend and the back end of last week to give the prime minister and Cobra options for what else could be done to support the wider community of British nationals in Sudan,” the defence minister said.
A storm gathered on Monday over Britain’s decision to rescue only its diplomats when other countries such as Germany had been evacuating both diplomats and nationals, prompting British ministers to say that evacuation efforts had not been abandoned.
Heappey said that discussions in government were continuing “at pace” and that Rishi Sunak would be given options to help Britons trapped in Sudan “as and when they arise”, but added that there was a concern that the military situation was highly unstable given the fighting between government and RSF rebel forces.
A frigate, HMS Lancaster, is also available nearby and could participate in any maritime rescue, if one were organised. Although the long journey from Khartoum to Port Sudan is not being recommended by British officials and is fraught with danger, convoys have been able to make it to the relatively safety of the city.
The UN Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, on Monday warned that the violence in Sudan “risks a catastrophic conflagration within Sudan that could engulf the whole region and beyond” and called on Security Council members to exert maximum leverage.The UN Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, on Monday warned that the violence in Sudan “risks a catastrophic conflagration within Sudan that could engulf the whole region and beyond” and called on Security Council members to exert maximum leverage.
Heappey said Sunday’s rescue involving two RAF planes – an Airbus A400M and a Hercules C-130 – operating via the Akrotiri base in Cyprus “went without a hitch.” Planes landed via an airfield at Wadi Seidna, which is about 30km north of Khartoum, and the UK worked with France and Germany to fly in and out this weekend.Heappey said Sunday’s rescue involving two RAF planes – an Airbus A400M and a Hercules C-130 – operating via the Akrotiri base in Cyprus “went without a hitch.” Planes landed via an airfield at Wadi Seidna, which is about 30km north of Khartoum, and the UK worked with France and Germany to fly in and out this weekend.
He said the Ministry of Defence continued to look at arranging further evacuations by air, road and sea – although nothing had yet been decided – but that the Wadi Seidna airfield was small and only able to handle two A400M-size aircraft at any one time, limiting the number of people that could be evacuated at any one time.He said the Ministry of Defence continued to look at arranging further evacuations by air, road and sea – although nothing had yet been decided – but that the Wadi Seidna airfield was small and only able to handle two A400M-size aircraft at any one time, limiting the number of people that could be evacuated at any one time.
The UK development minister, Andrew Mitchell, had earlier said British nationals still in Sudan could be given any assurances about evacuations. The UK airlifted its diplomats out of Sudan on Sunday, leaving other British citizens behind awaiting further instructions. Asked why diplomats but not citizens had been evacuated, Mitchell said “we have a specific duty of care, a legal duty of care, to our own staff and our diplomats” and that there had been “a very specific threat to the diplomatic community” in Khartoum. The UK development minister, Andrew Mitchell, had earlier said in a round of interviews on Monday morning, Mitchell said he could not give a timeline for when it would be possible to rescue British nationals. “The situation is absolutely desperate and a ceasefire is required,” he said. “The only advice that Britain can give to people is to stay indoors because that is the safe option.”
In a round of interviews on Monday morning, Mitchell said he could not give a timeline for when it would be possible to rescue British nationals. “The situation is absolutely desperate and a ceasefire is required,” he said. “The only advice that Britain can give to people is to stay indoors because that is the safe option.” Asked why diplomats but not citizens had been evacuated, Mitchell said “we have a specific duty of care, a legal duty of care, to our own staff and our diplomats” and that there had been “a very specific threat to the diplomatic community” in Khartoum.
However, he added: “Many of the Brits there are very creative and know the situation on the ground, and if at their own risk they determine there is a way for them to leave their own homes then of course they will take it.”However, he added: “Many of the Brits there are very creative and know the situation on the ground, and if at their own risk they determine there is a way for them to leave their own homes then of course they will take it.”
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The Conservative chair of the foreign affairs select committee, Alicia Kearns, said the Foreign Office did not appear to have learned lessons from the evacuation from Afghanistan, judging by its communications with British nationals in Sudan.The Conservative chair of the foreign affairs select committee, Alicia Kearns, said the Foreign Office did not appear to have learned lessons from the evacuation from Afghanistan, judging by its communications with British nationals in Sudan.
“We have a moral obligation to tell British nationals as soon as possible that is the judgment that has been made, because they then need to make their own decisions,” Kearns told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme. “We have a moral obligation to tell British nationals as soon as possible that is the judgment that has been made, because they then need to make their own decisions,” Kearns told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme.She agreed it was unacceptable that British nationals who had registered with the Foreign Office had received just two computer-generated messages in the past week.
She agreed it was unacceptable that British nationals who had registered with the Foreign Office had received just two computer-generated messages in the past week.
“That would suggest no lessons have been learned from Afghanistan and I have urged the government to make sure they are communicating regularly with British nationals. The reality is that, unlike other countries, we have thousands [of nationals in Sudan] so perhaps sometimes phoning around is terribly difficult.”
European countries, China and others from around the world raced to extract thousands of their citizens from Khartoum on Monday during an apparent lull in fierce fighting. France and Germany said they had evacuated about 700 people, without giving a breakdown of their nationalities. A German air force plane carrying evacuees landed in Berlin early on Monday.European countries, China and others from around the world raced to extract thousands of their citizens from Khartoum on Monday during an apparent lull in fierce fighting. France and Germany said they had evacuated about 700 people, without giving a breakdown of their nationalities. A German air force plane carrying evacuees landed in Berlin early on Monday.
Several countries sent military planes from Djibouti to fly people out from the Sudanese capital, while other operations took people by convoy to Port Sudan on the Red Sea, which is about 500 miles (800km) by road from Khartoum. From there, some have boarded ships to Saudi Arabia.Several countries sent military planes from Djibouti to fly people out from the Sudanese capital, while other operations took people by convoy to Port Sudan on the Red Sea, which is about 500 miles (800km) by road from Khartoum. From there, some have boarded ships to Saudi Arabia.
Indonesia said more than 500 of its citizens had been evacuated to the port and were awaiting transport to Jeddah, across the Red Sea. China, Denmark, Lebanon, the Netherlands, Switzerland and Sweden said they had got nationals out, while Japan said it was preparing to send an evacuation team from Djibouti.Indonesia said more than 500 of its citizens had been evacuated to the port and were awaiting transport to Jeddah, across the Red Sea. China, Denmark, Lebanon, the Netherlands, Switzerland and Sweden said they had got nationals out, while Japan said it was preparing to send an evacuation team from Djibouti.
Tobias Ellwood, the chair of the Commons defence committee, called for a “clearcut plan” to get British passport holders out. “If that plan does not emerge today, then individuals will then lose faith and then start making their own way back,” he told GB News, saying that could lead to “some very difficult situations”.Tobias Ellwood, the chair of the Commons defence committee, called for a “clearcut plan” to get British passport holders out. “If that plan does not emerge today, then individuals will then lose faith and then start making their own way back,” he told GB News, saying that could lead to “some very difficult situations”.
The violence in Sudan has pitted army units loyal to its military ruler, Gen Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, against the Rapid Support Forces, led by Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, known as Hemedti. Battles have been raging in Khartoum and its twin city of Omdurman, and a series of ceasefires have failed to hold.The violence in Sudan has pitted army units loyal to its military ruler, Gen Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, against the Rapid Support Forces, led by Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, known as Hemedti. Battles have been raging in Khartoum and its twin city of Omdurman, and a series of ceasefires have failed to hold.
Britain’s opposition Labour party has demanded to know what the UK government is doing to help the remaining British nationals still in Sudan.
Some Sudanese people have expressed anger that western countries have seemingly prioritised evacuating their people over trying to stop the fighting.Some Sudanese people have expressed anger that western countries have seemingly prioritised evacuating their people over trying to stop the fighting.
Kearns said she believed British citizens in Sudan were living in a state of fear and, as a former diplomat, she was inherently uncomfortable about a situation in which the UK had evacuated its diplomats before other nationals.