WASHINGTON - Zimbabwe’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs says it is closely monitoring the situation in Sudan where some foreigners are trapped following the recent outbreak of a fierce civil war pitting two generals fighting for the control of the north African country.
In a statement, Mugejo said about 100 Zimbabweans living in Sudan have reported that they are safe but some have indicated their desire to be repatriated from Sudan.
He said, “The Ministry has managed to secure buses to evacuate our nationals to the Port of Sudan in the UN convoy. The closure of airports has affected the ability of the Ministry to urgently assist with the repatriation of Zimbabweans in fulfillment of its mandate of protecting the interests and safety of Zimbabwean nationals abroad. A contingency fund has already been disbursed to the Embassy to facilitate the evacuation of our nationals.”
According to Mugejo, the Zimbabwean government is engaging Sudanese authorities to ensure that those in danger are repatriated to the southern African nation.
A Zimbabwean living in South Sudan, Zwelo Ndebele, told VOA Zimbabwe Service that he is in contact with his colleagues in Sudan where the security situation is deteriorating.
Meanwhile, in a statement Monday, U.S. Secretary of State, Antony Blinken said the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces RSF) have agreed to implement a nationwide ceasefire starting at midnight on April 24, to last for 72 hours.
Blinken said during this period, the United States urges the SAF and RSF to immediately and fully uphold the ceasefire.
He said to support a durable end to the fighting, the United States will coordinate with regional and international partners, and Sudanese civilian stakeholders, to assist in the creation of a committee to oversee the negotiation, conclusion, and implementation of a permanent cessation of hostilities and humanitarian arrangements in Sudan.
He 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.”
More details to follow …