JOHANNESBURG, April 24 (Xinhua) — South Africa is planning to evacuate more than 70 nationals stranded in Sudan as fierce fighting continues in the country, an official from the Department of International Relations and Cooperation said Monday.
The evacuation of 77 South Africans who have been trapped in Sudan is now in progress, according to Clayson Monyela, head of public diplomacy at the department.
"Our nationals and embassy staff are on their way out of Khartoum. I can't disclose the security and logistics of the operation. But they are moving out," Monyela said.
The government's top objective is to make sure they get to South Africa safely, according to Monyela, who added that the South African government promised to assist neighbors' nationals who required assistance in Sudan.
Violent clashes broke out between the Sudanese Armed Forces and Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on April 15 in Khartoum, the capital of Sudan, and other places due to disagreement over the RSF's integration into the army.
According to Sudan's health ministry, the clashes had left at least 424 people killed and about 3,730 wounded by Saturday. ■
