Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has directed officials to prepare contingency evacuation plans for approximately 3,000 Indian citizens stuck in the conflict-ridden Sudan. The country has been experiencing deadly fighting between its regular army and a paramilitary group called Rapid Support Forces for the past week, with 413 people killed and 3,551 others wounded in the violence, according to the latest toll from the World Health Organisation. Modi, who chaired a high-level meeting via video-conferencing to review the security situation in Sudan, told the officials to prepare “contingency evacuation plans, accounting for the rapidly shifting security landscape and the viability of various options”. The meeting was attended by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, Ambassador to Sudan B S Mubarak among others.
During the meeting, the Prime Minister assessed the most recent developments in Sudan and received a first-hand report of the conditions on the ground, with specific focus on the safety of over 3,000 Indian citizens presently located throughout the country. Modi expressed his condolences on the passing away of an Indian national who tragically fell victim to a stray bullet last week. He emphasised the importance of maintaining close communication with neighbouring countries in the region, as well as those with significant numbers of citizens in Sudan.
The US, UK, Germany, Spain, Japan, and South Korea are among the countries that are moving in to evacuate their citizens from Sudan. India had said Thursday that the situation in Sudan is “very tense” and that it is focusing on ensuring the safety and well-being of the Indian community, including working on contingency plans and possible evacuation. New Delhi is keeping a close watch on the developments in Sudan besides being in touch with relevant countries, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said at a media briefing, adding that any evacuation plan will depend on the ground situation.
Jaishankar, who met UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in New York Thursday, has also spoken to his counterparts from Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Egypt to discuss the situation in the country. Discussing the worsening situation in Sudan with Guterres, Jaishankar underscored the need for “successful diplomacy”, which can lead to an early ceasefire and create the ground situation for the safety and welfare of the people in the strife-torn African nation.
Government sources said India is coordinating closely with various countries to ensure the safety and security of Indian nationals in Sudan. The quartet countries of US, UK, Saudi Arabia and UAE have a key role and India is engaging them accordingly. The External Affairs Minister has spoken to counterparts in Saudi Arabia and UAE. Both have assured practical support on the ground. Our Ambassador in Washington DC and High Commissioner in London are in touch with their respective host governments. India is also working with the UN, which has a substantial presence in Sudan, the source said.
India has set up a dedicated Control Room and is in continuous touch with its embassy in Khartoum and is getting regular reports on the status of the Indian community. The embassy in turn is in touch with the community and individuals through multiple methods including WhatsApp groups. “The situation on the street is very tense and movement is very risky at this stage. Our priority is safety of movement and well-being of individuals wherever they are located. While both the ministry and the embassy are continuously monitoring the situation, concerns of safety and security constrain us from putting out specific details,” the source said.
