Albares does not rule out evacuating the Spaniards trapped in the open crisis in Sudan

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation, José Manuel Albares, has assured that he keeps all options open, including organizing an evacuation to get the nearly 80 Spaniards out of Sudan stuck in the country in full crisis after the fighting between the Army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

“We have, of course, all possible options, including evacuation, if necessary and possible,” said the Minister of Foreign Affairs from the European Parliament in Strasbourg where he met with Spanish MEPs.

In any case, you recalled that at this time Khartoum airport is blocked and the land borders are closedso no international rescue operation is possible.

The person in charge of Foreign Affairs has explained that there is coordination between the EU ambassadors and also contacts with Latin American countries to organize possible evacuations of foreigners, if necessary.

Meanwhile, Albares has asked Spaniards in the country or their relatives in Spain to contact the consular services. “The embassy is still fully operational and available to the Spaniards who are there. And we are in contact with them and establishing the final list of those who are there,” he stressed.

What has sparked the fighting?

The clashes broke out this Saturday, after weeks of tensions between the Army and the RSF in the framework of talks with civil organizations regarding the formation of a new unity government to return the country to the path of transition after the coup led in October 2021 by the current head of the Army and president of the Sovereign Transition Council, Abdelfatá al Burhan.

The special representative for Sudan of the UN Secretary General, Volker Perthes, raised this Monday to at least 185 the number of deaths and 1,800 the number of wounded since the outbreak of the armed confrontations.

Perthes has also highlighted that the parties do not seem to be interested in mediation to achieve an end to the violence. “The two sides that are fighting do not give the impression that they want mediation to achieve peace,” the German official said at a press conference.