Another Kabul? Citizens Feel Abandoned as Diplomats Airlifted Out of Sudan

[mystery-ak]

Another Kabul? Citizens Feel Abandoned as Diplomats Airlifted Out of Sudan

Oliver JJ  Lane 24 Apr 2023

Western nations are rushing to evacuate their embassy staff as a struggle for power between rival military factions intensifies. Still, some voice concerns lessons from the chaotic evacuation of Kabul have not been heeded.

The United States, United Kingdom, Japan, France, Germany, and Italy are among Western countries who have extracted embassy staff from Sudan over the weekend, a major logistical feat in a surging conflict which has seen aircraft burnt out and fighting at the capital Khartoum’s airport, and a runway damaged. The United States said it had conducted a military operation to extract government personnel from Khartoum, the United Kingdom said it had used special force soldiers to retrieve their people in a “complex and rapid evacuation”.

Yet, while embassy staff have had the military swoop in and pluck them away, citizens of some nations face a harder task, with reports of convoys of vehicles making a dangerous 500-mile drive to the sea amid the fighting. Pictures of a major United Nations convoy with the distinctive white-and-blue agency vehicles headed east out of Khartoum emerged on Sunday. One French national is reported as having been shot “trying to evacuate” after a convoy came under fire. Both sides in the Sudan conflict blamed each other for the attack on the French evacuation convoy.

For some nationals, rescue awaits at the coast: Saudi Arabia led what was described as the first successful military evacuation of Sudan by mooring a warship off the coast and bringing its citizens — and 66 people of other nations reportedly including “Kuwait, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Tunisia, Pakistan, India, Bulgaria, Bangladesh, the Philippines, Canada and Burkina Faso” onboard.

While the U.S. deployed 100 special forces troops and three Chinook helicopters to get government employees out of the country, it also said it had determined it was not safe enough to extend the service to U.S. citizens in Sudan for other reasons. A message from the Khartoum embassy, which is now closed, said: “Due to the uncertain security situation in Khartoum and closure of the airport, it is not currently safe to undertake a U.S. government-coordinated evacuation of private U.S. citizens… We recommend carefully considering routes and the risks of travel, because roads may be crowded, exposed to combat operations, or have deteriorated infrastructure due to damage to bridges, roads, and facilities.”

more
https://www.breitbart.com/europe/2023/04/24/another-kabul-citizens-feel-abandoned-as-diplomats-airlifted-out-of-sudan/

[mystery-ak]

US government offers help to 16,000 Americans living in Sudan
by Lauren Sforza - 04/23/23 6:25 PM ET

The U.S. government has pledged that it will try to help the 16,000 Americans living in Sudan as the fighting continues between the Sudanese army and a paramilitary group.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken issued a statement late Saturday night confirming the U.S. suspended operations in the U.S. embassy in the city of Khartoum, noting that they “safely evacuated all U.S. personnel and their dependents.” The U.S. embassy has about 70 U.S. staff members, and there are an estimated number of 16,000 Americans living in Sudan, who U.S. officials have said that they will aid.

Blinken said in his statement Saturday evening that the U.S. will help Americans in Sudan “in planning for their own safety and provide regular updates to U.S. citizens in the area.” This comes after a U.S. embassy convoy was attacked last week, but no one was injured.

“Suspending operations at one of our embassies is always a difficult decision, but the safety of our personnel is my first responsibility,” Blinken said in his statement. “The widespread fighting has caused significant numbers of civilian deaths and injuries and damage to essential infrastructure and posed an unacceptable risk to our Embassy personnel.”

Under Secretary for Management Ambassador John Bass said in a Saturday briefing that the U.S. will work with its allies to inform Americans in the area about the changing security conditions, noting that it is a “challenging environment.” He said that the U.S. can help connect Americans with other Americans in the country to “pool support.”

more
https://thehill.com/regulation/international/3965439-us-government-offers-help-to-16000-americans-living-in-sudan/

[mystery-ak]

White House warns Americans stranded in Sudan they are on their own: Tells up to 16,000 trapped citizens to shelter in place because it's not safe evacuate during brutal fighting between rival military factions

    White House says it's too dangerous to evacuate estimated 16,000 American civilians in Sudan as fighting rages throughout African nation
    'That would actually put Americans in more danger, not less,' said John Kirby
    DailyMail.com breaks down how the fighting started and who are the players

By Emily Goodin, Senior U.S. Political Reporter

Published: 09:51 EDT, 24 April 2023 | Updated: 14:11 EDT, 24 April 2023


White House spokesman John Kirby said on Monday it's not safe to evacuate the remaining Americans out of Sudan as two powerful rival military factions battle it out for control of the east African nation.

The United States evacuated US embassy personnel on Sunday but thousands of Americans still remain and President Joe Biden's administration ruled out a further evacuation.

'We're going to do everything we can to help guide people, get them the information they need to get out safely. But it is not safe right now for another evacuation attempt. That would actually put Americans in more danger, not less,' Kirby, the spokesman for the National Security Council, said on CBS Mornings.

He said the administration is 'advising all Americans, those who didn't take the warning, to get out, to shelter in place. This is not the time to be moving around the city.'

But White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said later Monday that the U.S. was assisting some evacuations.

''We are providing the kind of support and facilitation to help Americans who want to be able to leave and Americans are in the process of availing availing themselves of that,' he said at the White House press briefing.

But, when questioned, he said the assistance was to convoys arriving at the Red Sea with people looking to depart via Port Sudan.

more
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12007423/White-House-says-not-safe-evacuate-American-civilians-Sudan.html

[ironhorsedriver]

However, France and other countries are evacuating their citizens as well as other nationals as well.

[Fishrrman]

From the article:
"there are an estimated number of 16,000 Americans living in Sudan"

I just have to ask:
Why would ANY American want to live in Sudan...?

[berdie]

However, France and other countries are evacuating their citizens as well as other nationals as well.

Hmmm...sounds a little bit like Afghanistan doesn't it? Other countries were able to evacuate their citizens.

[mystery-ak]

April 24, 2023 4:53pm EDT
Blinken says Sudanese rivals agree to 72-hour ceasefire, US moves naval vessels to assist with evacuation
Sudan has descended into violence after fighting broke out between the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and the country's armed forces on April 15

By Bradford Betz , Jennifer Griffin | Fox News

The Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces on Monday agreed to a 72-hour ceasefire starting at midnight, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement.

During this period, the United States urges the SAF and RSF to immediately and fully uphold the ceasefire," Blinken said.  "We will continue to work with the Sudanese parties and our partners toward the shared goal of a return to civilian government in Sudan.

Earlier, Pentagon press secretary Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder said the USS Truxtun, a destroyer, was stationed off the coast of Sudan and the USS Lewis B. Puller, the first expeditionary sea base in the US fleet, was en route to provide transportation and medical care to American citizens should they wish to flee the rapidly deteriorating country.

Questioned on the capabilities, Ryder said the vessels will be awaiting possible orders from the State Department should they be needed.

"Those capabilities will be there should we need to use them in support of State Department’s efforts," Ryder said.

U.S. special operations forces carried out a precarious evacuation at the U.S. Embassy in Sudan Sunday, sweeping in and out of the capital with helicopters on the ground for less than an hour. No shots were fired and no major casualties were reported.

more
https://www.foxnews.com/world/blinken-says-sudanese-rivals-agree-72-hour-ceasefire-us-moves-naval-vessels-assist-evacuation

[libertybele]

Hmmm...sounds a little bit like Afghanistan doesn't it? Other countries were able to evacuate their citizens.

There was absolutely no reason why our citizens should have been left behind in Afghanistan other than incompetency. From my understanding, when private entities tried to evacuate citizens our state department interfered.  It was disgusting and shameful. 

Sudan is no different.

Let's Go Brandon!

[DefiantMassRINO]

 

So, Americans overseas should consider themselve S.O.L., in the eyes of the US State Department?

[bigheadfred]

When I was in Egypt in the early 80's the US Embassy put out a memo saying that if the s hit the fan (we) were on our own. It was a possibility, as Sadat had been assassinated not too long before.  In a tour around Cairo we were driven past the viewing stand where he was killed. There were multiple bullet holes across the front apron.

[rangerrebew]

White House Does It Again - Refuses To Evacuate Remaining U.S. Citizens From Sudan
By Jen Snow
April 25, 2023
Views: 21

U.S. Marines Evacuate Embassy Personnel from South Sudan
Please Follow us on Gab, Minds, Telegram, Rumble, Gab TV, GETTR, Truth Social

After evacuating some 70 U.S. staff members and their dependents from the U.S. Embassy in Khartoum, the White House has announced that the deteriorating security situation is "not conducive" to executing an extensive military evacuation of all U.S. citizens from Sudan.

On Monday, National Security Spokesman John Kirby explained that due to the worsening civil conflict in Sudan, U.S. citizens are on their own to evacuate themselves, however, the State Department will assist with "planning for their own safety."

"Well, we have military forces still prepositioned nearby in the region... if they're needed, but quite frankly, the situation is not conducive and not safe to try to conduct some kind of larger military evacuation of American citizens," Kirby added.

"Actually, the violence is increasing is more dangerous today than it was just yesterday, the day before," he said during a CNN This Morning interview.

https://armedforces.press/white-house-does-it-again-refuses-to-evacuate-remaining-u-s-citizens-from-sudan/

[bigheadfred]

Unless Americans are being targeted and murdered, which doesn't seem to be the case, and as much as it might seemingly suck, I agree with the US response.

[mountaineer]

Nick Sortor
@nicksortor
🚨 REPORT: The World Health Organization says there is an “extremely serious” situation and a “huge biological risk” as Sudan Rebels take control of a lab containing virus samples
Last edited
8:33 AM · Apr 25, 2023

Shawn Farash ❌🐻
@Shawn_Farash
The real question is why are there sensitive virus labs in unstable countries like Sudan?
8:58 AM · Apr 25, 2023

[bigheadfred]

Nick Sortor
@nicksortor
🚨 REPORT: The World Health Organization says there is an “extremely serious” situation and a “huge biological risk” as Sudan Rebels take control of a lab containing virus samples
Last edited
8:33 AM · Apr 25, 2023

Shawn Farash ❌🐻
@Shawn_Farash
[The real question is why are there sensitive virus labs in unstable countries like Sudan?
8:58 AM · Apr 25, 2023

Depends on what those labs are doing. I doubt their research includes weaponizing viruses. In a part of the world where outbreaks like Ebola occur, I can understand the interest.

[DefiantMassRINO]

 

Another Al Qudea aspirin factory in Sudan?

I thought Bill Clinton bombed that in the late 1990s.

[mountaineer]

The French are evacuating American citizens from Sudan because apparently the administration won’t get involved, will only kindly advise on “best practices.”

https://twitter.com/StrickerNonpro/status/1650964927698591744

[Smokin Joe]

So, Americans overseas should consider themselve S.O.L., in the eyes of the US State Department?

It is pretty obvious that this government does not have Americans' backs.

[mountaineer]

The Biden administration is helping Americans stranded in Sudan "remotely" and "from afar," Jake Sullivan says.

... President Joe Biden’s national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, defended the decision not to keep U.S. forces or diplomats in Sudan to help its citizens evacuate as several U.S. allies did and as the U.S. has often done in conflict zones in the past.

Instead, Sullivan told reporters, the U.S. was now remotely assisting Americans trying to flee the country by road.

U.S. assistance on Monday included helping Americans link up with convoys of foreigners now attempting to make it through fighting toward safety on Sudan’s eastern border. The U.S. also is placing intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance assets over the route from the capital, Khartoum, to the country’s main seaport, the Port of Sudan, to scope out safety threats, Sullivan said.   ...

Associated Press

He may as well have told them, "I'll have a good thought for you."