Georgian citizens stranded in Sudan by clashes transferred to “safer place” - Foreign Ministry
The Georgian Foreign Ministry on Sunday announced the transfer of the country’s nationals trapped in Sudan to a safer location from the epicentre of clashes. Photo: AFP
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Georgian citizens in Sudan have been transferred to a safer location away from the capital Khartoum, where fierce fighting for power continues between the country’s regular army and a powerful paramilitary force, the Georgian foreign office said on Sunday.
In comments for domestic media, the Ministry said the group included 33 Georgian nationals, including pilots, flight attendants and engineers of two Georgian-based airlines.
It also stressed it was continuing efforts for their subsequent evacuation and safe return to Georgia.
The personnel of Geo Sky and Myway airlines have been trapped in Sudan since April 15 amid the confrontation that has killed more than 400 people and injured thousands according to the World Health Organisation.
JACDEC, the global aviation safety news platform, last week posted a video that showed an aircraft - reportedly belonging to Myway and leased by the Sudanese airline Badr Airlines - that had burned during clashes.
Badr Airlines B737-800 (4L_MWA, built 2007) was destroyed by fire during recent military fighting at and around #KhartoumAirport, Sudan. @Eren50855570 pic.twitter.com/PyJ0fR8hTM
— JACDEC (@JacdecNew) April 20, 2023
Myway Director Rati Bakuradze told the media on Friday his company was waiting for the official confirmation of the report.
Several countries including the United States and United Kingdom announced on Sunday they had flown their diplomats out of the country. France, Germany, Italy and Spain have also carried out evacuations.
The power struggle pits General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, the Sudanese commander of the armed forces, against General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, the head of the Rapid Support Forces paramilitary group. The former allies jointly organised a military coup in October 2021.