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| UK begins evacuating citizens from Sudan after Germany allows use of airfield | UK begins evacuating citizens from Sudan after Germany allows use of airfield |
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| First RAF flight leaves amid ceasefire as Britain begins belated evacuation of 2,000 trapped nationals | First RAF flight leaves amid ceasefire as Britain begins belated evacuation of 2,000 trapped nationals |
| A first British evacuation flight from Sudan has landed in Cyprus after Germany gave permission for the UK to fly a plane from an airfield north of Khartoum it has been controlling to coordinate its own rescue. | A first British evacuation flight from Sudan has landed in Cyprus after Germany gave permission for the UK to fly a plane from an airfield north of Khartoum it has been controlling to coordinate its own rescue. |
| Two more RAF flights were expected to leave overnight, although the numbers airlifted to safety were far fewer than the 2,000-plus Britons believed to have been trapped in the country when a civil war broke out nearly two weeks ago. | Two more RAF flights were expected to leave overnight, although the numbers airlifted to safety were far fewer than the 2,000-plus Britons believed to have been trapped in the country when a civil war broke out nearly two weeks ago. |
| The first flight landed in Larnaca with about 40 people onboard, according to Cyprus’s foreign ministry, and the total number initially forecast to be evacuated was about 260 in an evacuation that began as Germany and France were completing their own diplomatic and civilian rescues. | The first flight landed in Larnaca with about 40 people onboard, according to Cyprus’s foreign ministry, and the total number initially forecast to be evacuated was about 260 in an evacuation that began as Germany and France were completing their own diplomatic and civilian rescues. |
| Rishi Sunak, the British prime minister, said the first flight had been carrying everybody eligible who had travelled to the Wadi Seidna airbase, about 15 miles north of Khartoum, and sought to defend himself against accusations that the UK had been behind other countries in a similar position. | Rishi Sunak, the British prime minister, said the first flight had been carrying everybody eligible who had travelled to the Wadi Seidna airbase, about 15 miles north of Khartoum, and sought to defend himself against accusations that the UK had been behind other countries in a similar position. |
| “The security situation on the ground in Sudan is complicated, it is volatile and we wanted to make sure we could put in place processes that are going to work for people, that are going to be safe and effective,” Sunak said. | “The security situation on the ground in Sudan is complicated, it is volatile and we wanted to make sure we could put in place processes that are going to work for people, that are going to be safe and effective,” Sunak said. |
| Britain had decided to launch an evacuation of Britons and their immediate families overnight after the announcement of a US-brokered 72-hour ceasefire in the civil war that suddenly broke out on 15 April. But they were told they had to make their own way to the airbase, despite the chaotic situation in the country and a risk of a flareup in the violence. | Britain had decided to launch an evacuation of Britons and their immediate families overnight after the announcement of a US-brokered 72-hour ceasefire in the civil war that suddenly broke out on 15 April. But they were told they had to make their own way to the airbase, despite the chaotic situation in the country and a risk of a flareup in the violence. |
| The UK had come under criticism for first rescuing only its diplomats from the embassy on Sunday, and then appearing relatively slow trying to rescue other citizens when compared with Germany and France. | The UK had come under criticism for first rescuing only its diplomats from the embassy on Sunday, and then appearing relatively slow trying to rescue other citizens when compared with Germany and France. |
| However, Sunak said he was pleased the UK was “one of the first countries to safely evacuate our diplomats and their families” and added that it was right they were prioritised because “they were being specifically targeted” in the initial fighting. | However, Sunak said he was pleased the UK was “one of the first countries to safely evacuate our diplomats and their families” and added that it was right they were prioritised because “they were being specifically targeted” in the initial fighting. |
| Earlier, it had emerged that the Wadi Seidna airbase was being run and secured by Germany, which had evacuated 490 people from 30 countries in five flights between Sunday evening and Tuesday lunchtime. A sixth and final German flight was due out on Tuesday evening. | Earlier, it had emerged that the Wadi Seidna airbase was being run and secured by Germany, which had evacuated 490 people from 30 countries in five flights between Sunday evening and Tuesday lunchtime. A sixth and final German flight was due out on Tuesday evening. |
| Ben Wallace, the defence secretary, speaking at a defence select committee, said that an emergency processing centre at the Wadi Seidna airbase, protected by 120 troops, had been set up as of mid-morning. | Ben Wallace, the defence secretary, speaking at a defence select committee, said that an emergency processing centre at the Wadi Seidna airbase, protected by 120 troops, had been set up as of mid-morning. |
| At that point he said RAF flights out would start “if and when the Germans leave”, explaining that Germany’s military was “running the airfield at the moment” to complete its own evacuation process. | At that point he said RAF flights out would start “if and when the Germans leave”, explaining that Germany’s military was “running the airfield at the moment” to complete its own evacuation process. |
| However, the first flight took off with Germany still running air traffic control at the airbase, although preparations were in hand for UK forces to take over air traffic control if or when the Germans decide to move on. | However, the first flight took off with Germany still running air traffic control at the airbase, although preparations were in hand for UK forces to take over air traffic control if or when the Germans decide to move on. |
| France had also been using the airbase to conduct its own rescue operation via Djibouti. It said it had rescued 538 people from 41 countries, operating nine round trip flights and 10 convoys from Khartoum to ferry people to the airbase. | France had also been using the airbase to conduct its own rescue operation via Djibouti. It said it had rescued 538 people from 41 countries, operating nine round trip flights and 10 convoys from Khartoum to ferry people to the airbase. |
| The US flew out diplomatic staff by helicopter on Saturday, but the Biden administration insists it had no plans to evacuate other US nationals or US-affiliated civilians. | |
| “We are providing the best possible advice we can about conditions, safety and security so that they can make their own decisions with the most information possible,” state department spokesman, Vedant Patel, said on Tuesday, adding: “It is not standard practice for the US to send the US military into war zones to extract US citizens.” | |
| Asked about the many other countries evacuating their nationals, Patel replied: “Each country is going to make its own sovereign decision based on their own interpretation of the security apparatus and the security situation on the ground.” | |
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| A second UK evacuation point was likely to be set up at Port Sudan, on the country’s Red Sea coast, about 500 miles north-east of Khartoum. Britain had deployed a contingent of Royal Marines there, Wallace said, and he said he had directed HMS Lancaster, a frigate, to sail there to facilitate a possible rescue. | |
| The idea was, he added, was to keep an alternative evacuation point “up our sleeve for contingencies” because “if the airbase were to close it would be one of the few options left”. Many people have made the 35-hour road journey to the city from Khartoum, scene of much of the fiercest fighting so far. | The idea was, he added, was to keep an alternative evacuation point “up our sleeve for contingencies” because “if the airbase were to close it would be one of the few options left”. Many people have made the 35-hour road journey to the city from Khartoum, scene of much of the fiercest fighting so far. |
| At 1pm UK time, the Foreign Office told Britons and their immediate families to head to the airfield, supplying its GPS coordinates in an official announcement shared on social media, although with phone and internet connection intermittent it was unclear how far the message got through. | At 1pm UK time, the Foreign Office told Britons and their immediate families to head to the airfield, supplying its GPS coordinates in an official announcement shared on social media, although with phone and internet connection intermittent it was unclear how far the message got through. |
| Andrew Mitchell, the minister for development and Africa, said the UK evacuation operation at the airfield was working but spasmodic. He told the foreign affairs select committee he did not know of any examples of people contacted to come to the airport being unable to make it and said all those who have arrived “have come under their own steam”. | Andrew Mitchell, the minister for development and Africa, said the UK evacuation operation at the airfield was working but spasmodic. He told the foreign affairs select committee he did not know of any examples of people contacted to come to the airport being unable to make it and said all those who have arrived “have come under their own steam”. |
| He insisted it had been right not to try to extract British nationals earlier and it was preferable to wait for a ceasefire. He said the ceasefire was certainly holding, but it had been necessary to evacuate British diplomats due to the fact they were in extreme danger. He denied suggestions that the UK could have foreseen the crisis or done more to forestall it. | He insisted it had been right not to try to extract British nationals earlier and it was preferable to wait for a ceasefire. He said the ceasefire was certainly holding, but it had been necessary to evacuate British diplomats due to the fact they were in extreme danger. He denied suggestions that the UK could have foreseen the crisis or done more to forestall it. |
| Aid agencies operating in Sudan said that the 72-hour ceasefire between the army and RSF paramilitaries appeared to be largely holding, but many Britons in the country said they were concerned about the risks of making the journey. | Aid agencies operating in Sudan said that the 72-hour ceasefire between the army and RSF paramilitaries appeared to be largely holding, but many Britons in the country said they were concerned about the risks of making the journey. |
| Those being rescued have to fly a four- to five-hour journey to Cyprus before being sent on fresh planes to the UK. Only British passport holders are eligible for evacuation, plus their spouses and children under 18, as long as they too have the right to enter the UK. | Those being rescued have to fly a four- to five-hour journey to Cyprus before being sent on fresh planes to the UK. Only British passport holders are eligible for evacuation, plus their spouses and children under 18, as long as they too have the right to enter the UK. |
| Priority would be given to family groups with children, elderly people and individuals with medical conditions, the Foreign Office added. | Priority would be given to family groups with children, elderly people and individuals with medical conditions, the Foreign Office added. |