China sends navy to evacuate citizens in Sudan

The Ministry of National Defense on Thursday said the military deployed naval vessels to Sudan to evacuate Chinese citizens, as multiple nations scrambled to evacuate embassy staff and citizens by road, air and sea from the country.

Noting that the security situation in the northeast African country has continued to deteriorate, the ministry’s spokesperson, Tan Kefei, said the military sent naval vessels to Sudan on April 26 “to protect the lives and property of Chinese people in Sudan”. He did not specify the number of vessels involved.

Fighting between the army and paramilitaries has killed hundreds and led to acute shortages of water, food, medicines and fuel. Rescue operations intensified in recent days as a 72-hour ceasefire took effect on Tuesday.

But some fighting was reported around the country on Wednesday, with witnesses describing “heavy air strikes” east of the capital, Khartoum.

Beijing said on Monday it had safely evacuated an initial group of citizens, estimating about 1,500 of its nationals were in Sudan.

And on Wednesday evening Wu Xi, head of consular affairs at the foreign ministry, told broadcaster CCTV more than 1,100 Chinese nationals – including Hong Kong residents – had been evacuated.

China says it is Sudan’s largest trading partner, with more than 130 companies investing there as of mid-2022.

Some 800 Chinese citizens would be evacuated from Sudan by sea from April 25 to 27, foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said on Wednesday.