The British evacuation mission from Sudan has lifted 301 people to safety over four flights as the military races against time to rescue citizens while a fragile ceasefire holds.
Another RAF flight was preparing to depart the Wadi Saeedna airstrip near the capital of Khartoum on Wednesday afternoon, with a further three flights expected later in the day.
Downing Street said the flights have been “full or close to full”, with no “significant issues” being faced by the evacuees who have been told to make their own way to the airfield.
The fighting in Sudan began in the middle of April amid an apparent power struggle between the two main factions of the military regime.
Sudan conflict explained: the rival generals behind a deadly power struggle
X-rays show shrapnel and bullets buried in children caught in Sudan war
Sudan’s RSF and allies have committed ‘staggering’ levels of sexual abuse, says UN
The Irish Times view on the war in Sudan: the forgotten war taking a terrible toll
The Sudanese armed forces are broadly loyal to Gen Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, the country’s de facto ruler, while the paramilitaries of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a collection of militia, follow the former warlord Gen Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, known as Hemedti.
The power struggle has its roots in the years before a 2019 uprising that ousted the dictatorial ruler Omar al-Bashir, who built up formidable security forces that he deliberately set against one another.
When an effort to move to a democratic civilian-led government faltered after Bashir’s fall, an eventual showdown was inevitable.
Meanwhile, the UK prime minister’s spokesman said the operation in Khartoum is “running smoothly”, while there is currently “no issue with capacity”.
The official said the “majority” of the people on the planes were British nationals but that some will be citizens of allied countries.
Downing Street hopes to carry on with flights throughout the week and does not believe there will be a need to “leave the airport imminently”.
[ Sudan: Almost 90 Irish citizens evacuated, Tánaiste confirmsOpens in new window ]
A 72-hour ceasefire brokered by the warring rival generals has largely held since it began in the early hours of Monday.
It is understood that if fighting resumes the evacuation operation will not necessarily end, but it will present a greater risk to the safety of evacuees, troops and officials.
Those airlifted to safety are first being taken to Cyprus and the first chartered jet flying a group back to London Stansted left Larnaca on Wednesday morning.
Almost 90 Irish citizens and their dependents have been evacuated from Sudan following the recent outbreak of conflict in the country, Tánaiste Micheál Martin has said.
In a post on Twitter, the Minister for Foreign Affairs confirmed “further progress” had been made in helping Irish citizens flee Sudan. “A total of 88 citizens and their dependents have now been evacuated,” Mr Martin said.
“My officials in Nairobi and Dublin are maintaining regular contact with registered Irish citizens. Thanks to our international partners for continued support,” he said.
A team of Irish Army Ranger Wing troops and department officials travelled to the region at the start of the week, to help Irish citizens based in Sudan get out of the country.
Citizens are largely being flown out of the country on military flights organised by friendly countries.
The United Nations’ (UN) special envoy said the US-brokered ceasefire appears to be partially holding but there is no sign the warring parties are ready to seriously negotiate.
This suggested “that both think that securing a military victory over the other is possible,” envoy Volker Perthes said to the UN Security Council. “This is a miscalculation.”
The parties agreed to a 72-hour ceasefire beginning on Tuesday after negotiations mediated by the United States and Saudi Arabia.
“It seems to be holding in some parts so far. However, we also hear continuing reports of fighting and movement of troops,” said Mr Perthes, who spoke via video from Port Sudan.
UN secretary general Antonio Guterres described the violence and chaos in Sudan as “heartbreaking”. The power struggle puts Sudan’s future at risk and could cause suffering for years and set back development for decades, Mr Guterres said.
The UN plans to establish a hub in Port Sudan to continue working in the country where, before the violence broke out, nearly 16 million people – one-third of the population – were in need of humanitarian aid.
Sudan’s toppled leader Omar al-Bashir was moved from Kober prison to a military hospital in the Sudanese capital before heavy fighting broke out there on April 15th, two sources at the hospital said.
The whereabouts of Bashir came into question after a former minister in his government, Ali Haroun, announced on Tuesday he had left the prison with other ex-officials.
Bashir and Haroun are wanted by the International Criminal Court over alleged atrocities in Darfur. – Agencies