Govt plans to evacuate Tanzanians living in Sudan

THE government is planning to evacuate Tanzanians living in Sudan should the need arise.

The Minister for Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation, Dr Stergomena Tax stated this in the National Assembly on Wednesday, while presenting a report on Sudan’s peace and security situation.

“We have about 210 Tanzanians in Sudan, 171 of whom are studying and the rest are embassy officials and other residents, No Tanzanians have so far been reported to have been affected by the ongoing fighting between rival armed factions,” she informed the House.

“The government assures Tanzanians that appropriate measures are being taken in collaboration with neighbouring countries, Regional Communities, the African Union (AU), and the United Nations (UN) to ensure the safety of Tanzanians in the country and other people,” she said.

On April 15, this year in Sudan, fighting broke out between the government forces (Sudan Armed Forces – SAF) and the paramilitaries of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), in the Capital of Sudan, Khartoum and in other areas of the country.

According to Dr Tax, joint efforts by international organs enabled the fighting to be halted for 24 hours beginning yesterday, April 18 at 10:00 p.m., to allow for humanitarian needs to be met.

“There is hope that fighting will cease and that peaceful resolutions to this conflict will be possible,” she added.

Furthermore, according to Dr Tax, the fighting has resulted in 185 fatalities, more than 1000 injuries, and property damage, including damage to airplanes. Additionally, the fighting has slowed down ongoing efforts to bring about peace in Sudan.

“Tanzania is keeping an eye on the situation and is saddened by the decline in peace and security. As a member of the African Union’s Peace and Security Council, we support the Declaration adopted by the Council at its meeting on April 16 condemning the ongoing fighting in Sudan and urging all parties to the conflict to put an end to it,” said Dr Tax.

Tanzania, as stated by Minister Tax, wants the conflict to be resolved peacefully while ensuring the humanitarian needs, security and well-being of Sudanese citizens and citizens from other countries.

She also stated that the government has maintained regular contact with the Tanzanian Embassy in Khartoum to ascertain the situation on the ground.

“The government consoles the people of Sudan, other citizens and all those affected by the deterioration of the peace situation in the country, in one way or another, and we continue to ask both sides to stop fighting and return to the negotiating table for the prosperity of Sudan, Africa and the world in general,” she said.

Meanwhile, the East African Community (EAC) has expressed its deep concern over the ongoing conflict in Sudan.

“The EAC calls for an immediate cessation of hostilities between the warring parties to avoid further loss of life, injuries and damage to property. The EAC further calls on both parties to seek an amicable settlement through the available conflict resolution mechanisms at the regional, continental and international levels,” reads a statement released by the bloc on Tuesday.

The statement further reads that EAC stands in solidarity with the people of Sudan in the quest for peace, noting that the conflict will not only cause insecurity and instability in the country but will have a ripple effect in the region and the continent at large.

“We appreciate efforts that have been made so far by the Intergovernmental Authority for Development (IGAD), the African Union and the UN to resolve the conflict.

Of concern to us in the Community is that it is the most vulnerable segments of the Sudanese population – women and children – who will bear the brunt of the conflict.

The EAC, therefore, wishes to encourage the two parties to exhaust all diplomatic options in an effort to find a lasting solution to the ongoing conflict,” the statement further reads.

Violence between the army and a paramilitary group called the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has left around 100 people dead, doctors’ union said.

Both sides claimed to control key sites in Khartoum, where residents sheltered from explosions.