U.S. preparing to position troops in case of Sudan embassy evacuation
The security situation has spiraled downward in the country’s capital.
The Pentagon is preparing to position U.S. forces in Djibouti in anticipation of a potential mission to evacuate U.S Embassy personnel in Khartoum, two people familiar with the military plans said.
The security situation in Sudan’s capital has cratered over a week of fighting, as two rival generals — one in charge of the nation’s armed forces, the other a powerful paramilitary group — battle for control of the country. The heavy fighting in Khartoum has left many stranded in the city of 5 million people, including embassy staff who are sheltering in place at the compound eight miles from the international airport.
Wendy Sherman, the deputy secretary of State, privately told lawmakers Wednesday that troops would be moving to Djibouti, home to Camp Lemmonier, to provide the administration an option to launch an evacuation operation. Sherman stressed that the mission would whisk only embassy staff to safety and that there won’t be a military-led general evacuation of American citizens.
A military evacuation seems increasingly likely. The airport, located in central Khartoum, is closed but would be inoperable even if it reopened due to damage from bombardment and fighting. The roughly 70 U.S. staff at the embassy have no options to leave Sudan on their own without immense risk to their safety.
Also on Wednesday, Molly Phee, the top State Department official for African affairs, told congressional staffers that it was too late to issue an ordered departure of the mission because of the deteriorating security situation that has already led to around 300 deaths and about 3,000 more wounded.
A U.S. official familiar with the planning, who like the first two people was granted anonymity to detail discussions about a sensitive military operation, said papers had been drawn up at the State Department for an evacuation order. The official added that State Department leadership held a call with embassy staff Thursday morning to discuss options, including a ground evacuation. But the assessment, per the official, was that travel by road was currently more dangerous than by air.
The State Department didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment. A DoD spokesperson declined to comment.
A potential option would be to move the personnel to Wadi Seidna Air Base for an air evacuation. Dozens of Egyptian soldiers captured by the Rapid Support Forces paramilitary group were released this week and flew home from that base, which is 14 miles north of Khartoum.
Nahal Toosi contributed to this report.