Sudan has been grappling with a major conflict as the army and paramilitary forces clash.
Sudan has been grappling with a major conflict as the army and paramilitary forces clash.
The Sudanese ambassador to India, Abdalla Omer Bashir Elhusain, has stated that the request of the Indian government for the evacuation of its nationals from Sudan is currently under consideration by the authorities. The country has been grappling with a major conflict as the army and paramilitary forces clash.
Speaking to our diplomatic correspondent Sidhant Sibal, he said, “We have received understand the request of the Indian Government to evacuate their nationals. It is under discussion and consideration by authorities in Khartoum and they are going to decide the best way to make it possible.”
According to Indian government data, around 3,000 Indians are in the country. “We want to assure the Indian government that the competent authorities are taking all necessary measures to protect foreigners, including Indian nationals in Sudan,” said Ambassador Elhusain even as logistics issues remain, including the international airport in the capital being damaged.
When asked if the Indian government had reached out to him for the evacuation of Indian nationals, Elhusain said, “Yes, I met officials of the Minister of External Affairs yesterday in Delhi. And we discussed these topics, these issues and we are exchanging information about the Indian nationals stranded, and we have some ideas and plans to make their return to their home possible in the coming days.”
“It is under discussion and consideration by authorities in Khartoum and they are going to decide the best way to make it possible.”
Talking about the number of other countries that have reached out to the Sudanese government for the evacuation of their nationals, he said, “I can’t tell the exact number, but three-four countries, maybe more or less.”
He also said that there are certain logistical issues facing Sudan when it comes to the evacuation of nationals of other countries.
“Our international airport is badly damaged. I am not sure if airports outside Khartoum are ready, or if the runways are in shape to receive planes or not. We also need to understand and assess the security situation on the ground, as there are clashes in the streets and around the airport, around many government departments,” he said.
When asked if India can play a role to help solve the current crisis, Elhusain said, “Of course, we are counting on our strong bilateral relationship with India.”
“India is an important country to Sudan and it’s a possibility that India will help Sudan overcome its difficulties in future.”
Sidhant Sibal: What is the current situation in the country?
Abdalla Omer Bashir Elhusain: I will give you a background of the unfortunate events that have happened. It started on 15th, when the rebel forces attacked the Sudanese armed forces, and attack resident of the President and that attack expanded to Khartoum international airport, Radio and TV station, the national one. Most important thing is that this attack took place on the same day when there was a meeting scheduled between President Fattah al Burhan and leader of the Rebel Forces. The Sudanese armed forces responded accordingly and was successful in responding and defeating the rebels.
Sidhant Sibal: How worrisome if the situation in the country, especially in the national capital Khartoum?
Abdalla Omer Bashir Elhusain: These clashes take place in the capital Khartoum, and the Sudanese Armed Forces adopting combat strategy, which is very sensitive to civilians, and the Sudanese armed forces are fulfilling their commitments and maintaining the security and stability of the country. But at the same time, having in mind this battle, these clashes are taking place in densely urban areas in the city and that is why these Sudanese armed forces are very keen to respond to the rebels and to defeat them and at the same time to save the lives of the civilians.
Sidhant Sibal: Do you expect any kind of international support to make sure that the current crisis can be resolved?
Abdalla Omer Bashir Elhusain: Yes, as you have maybe the international committees, African Union, and other countries, they have expressed their interest and availability and they send the calls to both parties to stop the clashes. But our government is thinking that this is a battle in which we are defending Sudan and we think that this is an internal issue, and it should be left to Sudanese people to solve them, to solve the problem between themselves and our government is completely not accepting any sort of international interference, so no international interference.
Sidhant Sibal: So, no international interference….
Abdalla Omer Bashir Elhusain: No international interference, This is a Sudanese issue, an internal issue, and it should be solved by Sudanese themselves.
Sidhant Sibal: And what do you have to say about the Quartet, which is US, UK, Saudi Arabia and UAE, their role?
Abdalla Omer Bashir Elhusain: They are all active, and active in Sudanese politics for the last few years. And all the effort is appreciated. And, we want to say that all the efforts by all our own friends and our own Sudanese fractions, to convince the rebels, to integrate in the Armed Forces fail. It’s still mainly due to the refusal of the commander and the rebels.
Sidhant Sibal: So if we talk about the situation in the city, are the diplomatic missions safe? Reports have come that the diplomatic missions have been harmed.
Abdalla Omer Bashir Elhusain: I think our own concern or authorities in Sudan is very aware of its responsibility to protect the employees of all foreign diplomatic missions in Khartoum. And we have taken the necessary measurements to ensure their safety, but in such a situation definitely small incident will have been here and there. We express our sorrow for all our friends, our embassies, diplomats in Sudan, and our friends out Sudan for those minor forces, but I think they understand the situation and the complications and they will be able to, to understand that we are doing our best, our utmost but as I said, in such a situation, minor and small incidents will happen and sometimes are not avoidable.
Sidhant Sibal: So are you sending a message to European Union because I believe the European Union ambassador was harmed.
Abdalla Omer Bashir Elhusain: Of course, we’re very sorry for that. We believe those diplomatic missions are in Sudan to help Sudan and its development plans and other bilateral and multilateral engagements. And when any of them has been like a target for any such attack, even if it is minor, we feel very sorry for that. But we understand this is sometime during this critical abnormal situation.
Sidhant Sibal: What about the situation of foreign nationals because that has been a big worry, because a lot of foreign nationals in the capital city, so what message would you like to send to them and the various foreign governments who are very anxious about their nationals?
Abdalla Omer Bashir Elhusain: In Sudan, the Sudanese forces, armed forces are trying to do their best in saving the civilians, whether they are Sudanese nationals or foreign nationals. And regarding the foreign nationals, I think, more protection, more attention should be given to them. They are our guests, and we are very keen to ensure their safety. My message to the international community and to the foreigners in Sudan that this battle is about finished, it will not take long. It is only a matter of few days and things will come back to normal and they will be very safe, whether they want to stay at their home, or they want to leave
Sidhant Sibal: I believe that there was a ceasefire that was also looked into, what happened that ceasefire, is it holding?
Abdalla Omer Bashir Elhusain: It was first announced yesterday for 24 hours but unfortunately, it did not hold, and rebels violated the ceasefire as soon as it started.
Sidhant Sibal: So it has been violated. So it looks difficult. do you think that any ceasefire will hold given the current situation and as you pointed out, the rebels responsible for breaking the ceasefire?
Abdalla Omer Bashir Elhusain: From the government side, we express our view, we understand the importance of this humanitarian ceasefire to make the civilians able to get their necessities, things from the market. But as I told you, it was violated immediately by the rebels. It is very important to have the ceasefire, but rebels violated it.
Sidhant Sibal: What is the situation of the Indians in the country?
Abdalla Omer Bashir Elhusain: I can’t describe their situation indifferent other foreigners, nationals, or events of any citizen. It is obvious that all these people are staying and living under the stress of this war, these clashes and I have my sympathy with them. But I just want to make sure to assure the Indian government that that is competent authorities are taking all necessary measures to protect foreigners, including Indian nationals in Sudan and we will do our best to make the decision to stay or leave the country possible as soon as situations change.
Sidhant Sibal: So when it comes to the Indian nationals, any plans you have been discussing? Has the Indian government reached out to you for the evacuation of the Indian nationals?
Abdalla Omer Bashir Elhusain: Yes, I met officials of Minister of External Affairs yesterday in Delhi. And we discussed these topics, these issues and we are exchanging information about the Indian nationals stranded, and we have some ideas and plans to make their return to their home possible in coming days.
Sidhant Sial: So there is a plan which is being chalked out for the evacuation of Indian nationals?
Abdalla Omer Bashir Elhusain: We have received understand the request of the Indian Government to evacuate their nationals. It is under discussion and consideration by authorities in Khartoum and they are going to decide the best way to make it possible.
Sidhant Sibal: How many countries have reached out to Sudanese government for the evacuation of their national standard in the country?
Abdalla Omer Bashir Elhusain: I can’t tell the exact number, but 3-4 countries maybe more or less.
Sidhant Sibal: How do you see India’s role, do you see India can play a role in terms of anything which Sudanese government might think of. India is thought of as a country that has lot of good vibes in the continent…we are helping Africa in lot of capacity building, So do you see Indian role?
Abdalla Omer Bashir Elhusain: Of course, we are counting on our strong bilateral relationship with India. India has always a chance or opportunity to play an important role in its relations with Sudan. Our relationship has always been very strong throughout … that is since independence of Sudan in 1956 and during the Non-Aligned Movement, India was playing an important role and even after the disappearing of the moment by the end of Cold War, in the 90s of last century, but India still maintained strong relations with friends in Africa, especially Sudan. India is an important country, and India is achieving highest gross rates in the world. It comes under top 5 biggest economies in the world and in all these circumstances, India is an important country to Sudan and it’s a possibility that India will help Sudan to overcome its difficulties in future, and especially we know that there is a serious interest between our talks to promote and enhance economic trade relations and also we have good cooperation on international level as we look India as an important country to Sudan in these times and future.
Sidhant Sibal: Now coming back to my question on evacuation bid, how precarious and dangerous is it right now when it comes to evacuation, as there are still fights going on? Please give perspective to our viewers on how dangerous it could be right now for any mission to take place.
Abdalla Omer Bashir Elhusain: That’s what I meant when I told you about the requests were conveyed to Sudan, to understand and answer the question about the readiness of the situation of Sudan for this evacuation operation. But as you know, our international airport is badly damaged, as airports outside Khartoum are not sure if they are ready, or the runways are in shape if they can receive planes or not. The number two, also we need to understand and assess the security situation on the ground, as there are clashes in the streets and around the airport, around many government departments. So logistics of people who want to be evacuated from there are staying now to the airport and aircraft is still a question. But as I said in the beginning, we are studying and asking our authorities, to tell us about the correct time to make this operation happen.
Sidhant Sibal: Last question to you, it’s about the geopolitics. We saw the conflict in Europe. There are lot of conflicts in Africa. Do you think world fails to understand conflicts in Africa as compared to conflict in Europe?
Abdalla Omer Bashir Elhusain: May be the comparison is not correct in general. The conflict in Europe and Ukraine is between big powers, with Russia on one side and USA and western countries on the other side, but what I am trying to say yes definitely any country, any region will pay more attention to the problems and conflicts happening in its surrounding. That’s why we see the countries like Saudi Arabia, UAE, USA and Britain are more involved in Sudan conflict. Our neighbours and African Union are also involved and expressed their worries, and about the situation in Sudan. IGAD [Intergovernmental Authority on Development, an eight-country bloc in Africa] decided to send the presidents of Kenya, South of Sudan, and Djibouti. This is all to reflect the engagement of the regional countries and neighbours. Even these visits are not being possible because of unsuitable situation in Sudan.
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