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| Sudan: final UK flight leaves as evacuation operation ends | Sudan: final UK flight leaves as evacuation operation ends |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Last flight left on Saturday night following evacuation of nearly 1,900 people and amid concerns Sudan’s army had blocked some from leaving | Last flight left on Saturday night following evacuation of nearly 1,900 people and amid concerns Sudan’s army had blocked some from leaving |
| The final UK flight taking evacuees from Sudan left on Saturday night, the UK government has said, marking the end of Britain’s evacuation operation from the country stricken by warring armed forces. | |
| The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) said the last flight left Wadi Saeedna airfield, just north of the capital, Khartoum, at 10pm local time and that the UK is no longer running evacuation flights from the airfield. | The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) said the last flight left Wadi Saeedna airfield, just north of the capital, Khartoum, at 10pm local time and that the UK is no longer running evacuation flights from the airfield. |
| Earlier on Saturday night, it was announced that 1,888 people on 21 flights had been evacuated – the vast majority of them British nationals and their dependants – but that the last flight had not left despite being scheduled to depart at 6pm. | Earlier on Saturday night, it was announced that 1,888 people on 21 flights had been evacuated – the vast majority of them British nationals and their dependants – but that the last flight had not left despite being scheduled to depart at 6pm. |
| The Conservative chair of the foreign affairs select committee told the Observer she had received information that elements of the Sudanese Armed Forces had blocked British nationals as they attempted to navigate the treacherous route to an airbase north of Khartoum. | The Conservative chair of the foreign affairs select committee told the Observer she had received information that elements of the Sudanese Armed Forces had blocked British nationals as they attempted to navigate the treacherous route to an airbase north of Khartoum. |
| Foreign office minister Andrew Mitchell told the BBC the operation had been “extremely successful”, but added: “We can’t stay there forever in such dangerous circumstances.” | Foreign office minister Andrew Mitchell told the BBC the operation had been “extremely successful”, but added: “We can’t stay there forever in such dangerous circumstances.” |
| Foreign secretary James Cleverly said: “The UK has brought more than 1,888 people to safety from Sudan thanks to the efforts of staff and military working around the clock to deliver this evacuation – the largest of any western country. | Foreign secretary James Cleverly said: “The UK has brought more than 1,888 people to safety from Sudan thanks to the efforts of staff and military working around the clock to deliver this evacuation – the largest of any western country. |
| “We continue to press all diplomatic levers to secure a long-term ceasefire and end the bloodshed in Sudan. Ultimately a stable transition to civilian rule is the best way to protect the security and prosperity of the Sudanese people.” | “We continue to press all diplomatic levers to secure a long-term ceasefire and end the bloodshed in Sudan. Ultimately a stable transition to civilian rule is the best way to protect the security and prosperity of the Sudanese people.” |
| The winding down of the UK operation follows a last-minute u-turn by the government to allow NHS workers to join British nationals trapped in Sudan on to the last flights on Saturday, with a middy deadline given to reach the airport amid the chaos. It comes after a doctors’ union called for NHS medics without UK passports to be included in the airlifts. | The winding down of the UK operation follows a last-minute u-turn by the government to allow NHS workers to join British nationals trapped in Sudan on to the last flights on Saturday, with a middy deadline given to reach the airport amid the chaos. It comes after a doctors’ union called for NHS medics without UK passports to be included in the airlifts. |
| Thousands more British citizens may yet remain in Sudan, against a backdrop of continued fighting in Khartoum despite the extension of an ceasefire between the country’s two warring generals having been brokered in the early hours of Friday. | Thousands more British citizens may yet remain in Sudan, against a backdrop of continued fighting in Khartoum despite the extension of an ceasefire between the country’s two warring generals having been brokered in the early hours of Friday. |
| Sudan’s former prime minister Abdalla Hamdok has warned that the conflict in the turbulent African nation could deteriorate to one of the world’s worst civil wars if it is not stopped early. | Sudan’s former prime minister Abdalla Hamdok has warned that the conflict in the turbulent African nation could deteriorate to one of the world’s worst civil wars if it is not stopped early. |
| More than 500 people have been killed since battles erupted on 15 April between the forces of army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and his number two Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, commonly known as Hemedti, who commands the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). | More than 500 people have been killed since battles erupted on 15 April between the forces of army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and his number two Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, commonly known as Hemedti, who commands the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). |
| “God forbid if Sudan is to reach a point of civil war proper ... Syria, Yemen, Libya will be a small play,” Hamdok said in a conversation with Sudan-born telecoms tycoon Mo Ibrahim at an event in Nairobi. | “God forbid if Sudan is to reach a point of civil war proper ... Syria, Yemen, Libya will be a small play,” Hamdok said in a conversation with Sudan-born telecoms tycoon Mo Ibrahim at an event in Nairobi. |
| “I think it would be a nightmare for the world,” he said, adding that it would have many ramifications. | “I think it would be a nightmare for the world,” he said, adding that it would have many ramifications. |
| With PA Media | With PA Media |