Sudan war: FG could start evacuation of Nigerians on Tuesday
The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) has said that the Federal Government may begin the evacuation of citizens from Sudan on Tuesday morning.
The president, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, gave the hint in an interview with BBC Africa on Monday, amid fears for nationals trapped in the war.
The official said it was dangerous to try to move thousands of people out of a war zone without permission from factions at loggerheads.
"We hope that by tomorrow, the first buses will leave from Khartoum (the capital), heading to some borders of Cairo (capital of Egypt), where we can fly them home.
"I know the Nigerian Association of Nigerian Students actually sent a message and told them all to come somewhere, pay a fee, but that was a dangerous move.
"They have all returned to base...there is a contact from the Nigerian mission in Sudan. As soon as the buses are ready, most likely tomorrow morning, they will transport them safely and that is the word -key.
"Why are we waiting? Because we have to make sure we get permission from the military on both sides. We have a large number of Nigerian students, no less than 3,500 who are stranded.
"We transport them in many buses. Imagine seeing 10 buses without any security, you put them in danger. We want to ensure safety and security.
“By tomorrow, they will go to the borders of Cairo. Some found their way to Ethiopia, we have seven documented. There were issues of not being able to enter, but the Mission contacted the authorities,” Dabiri-Erewa added.
The Sudanese army led by Abdelfattah al-Burhan, and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), led by Mohamed "Hemedti" Hamdan Dagalo, are locked in a power struggle.
The latest figures show that more than 420 people, mostly civilians, have been killed, 3,700 injured and millions displaced since fighting began on April 15.
The Crisis Group said what triggered the renewed fighting was a dispute over how to integrate the RSF into the ranks of the regular army.
Burhan and Hemedti are said to have the backing of foreign ties, neither of them ready to change ground. Khartoum, Darfur region and others are now facing a shortage of basic equipment.
The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) has said that the Federal Government may begin the evacuation of citizens from Sudan on Tuesday morning.
The president, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, gave the hint in an interview with BBC Africa on Monday, amid fears for nationals trapped in the war.
The official said it was dangerous to try to move thousands of people out of a war zone without permission from factions at loggerheads.
"We hope that by tomorrow, the first buses will leave from Khartoum (the capital), heading to some borders of Cairo (capital of Egypt), where we can fly them home.
"I know the Nigerian Association of Nigerian Students actually sent a message and told them all to come somewhere, pay a fee, but that was a dangerous move.
"They have all returned to base...there is a contact from the Nigerian mission in Sudan. As soon as the buses are ready, most likely tomorrow morning, they will transport them safely and that is the word -key.
"Why are we waiting? Because we have to make sure we get permission from the military on both sides. We have a large number of Nigerian students, no less than 3,500 who are stranded.
"We transport them in many buses. Imagine seeing 10 buses without any security, you put them in danger. We want to ensure safety and security.
“By tomorrow, they will go to the borders of Cairo. Some found their way to Ethiopia, we have seven documented. There were issues of not being able to enter, but the Mission contacted the authorities,” Dabiri-Erewa added.
The Sudanese army led by Abdelfattah al-Burhan, and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), led by Mohamed "Hemedti" Hamdan Dagalo, are locked in a power struggle.
The latest figures show that more than 420 people, mostly civilians, have been killed, 3,700 injured and millions displaced since fighting began on April 15.
The Crisis Group said what triggered the renewed fighting was a dispute over how to integrate the RSF into the ranks of the regular army.
Burhan and Hemedti are said to have the backing of foreign ties, neither of them ready to change ground. Khartoum, Darfur region and others are now facing a shortage of basic equipment.
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