FG evacuates Nigerians in Sudan as expulsion deadline looms

The Nigerians in the Diaspora Commission said the Federal Government has evacuated citizens in Sudan willing to return home following the two-week expulsion notice issued to foreigners by the Sudanese authorities.

NiDCOM Chief, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, disclosed this in Abuja on Friday.

Sudanese security authorities have ordered all foreigners to leave the capital Khartoum and the surrounding region.

They gave the foreigners two weeks to do so, according to a statement from the section of the police dealing with foreigners.

The police said foreigners should leave for their own safety amid the fighting still raging between government troops and the Rapid Support Forces militia.

According to media reports, hostility towards foreigners, especially those from other African countries, has been on the rise following reports of foreign mercenaries in the RSF ranks.

A few days ago, more than 150 foreigners who did not have valid residence papers were detained.

A bloody power struggle has been raging in Sudan for more than a year between de facto ruler Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and his former deputy Mohammed Hamdan Daglo.

According to the UN, the conflict has caused almost 10 million people to flee their homes, and risks a famine in the country.

According to Dabiri-Erewa, the Federal Government the war in Sudan has escalated and no one was left behind.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that when it enquired further on the matter, she said “I suggest you enquire from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs directly.”

International aid organisation staff and diplomats still in the country left Khartoum after the outbreak of fighting and are now working from Port Sudan, where the situation is comparatively stable.

NAN