Countries around the world have been rushing to get their citizens out of Sudan, including Kenyans who landed at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi (Picture: Reuters)
The British military has begun the process of evacuating UK nationals from Sudan after a 72-hour ceasefire was agreed by generals.
There were at least 2,000 Brits still in the North African country yesterday, with reports that there could be more than 4,000.
Foreign Secretary James Cleverly had previously said any effort from the government to evacuate UK citizens would be ‘severely limited’ unless there was a pause in the fighting.
The breakthrough came last night, with all sides of the conflict agreeing to put down their weapons for three days.
US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said: ‘Following intense negotiation over the past 48 hours, 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.’
This morning, Mr Cleverly tweeted: ‘The UK government is coordinating an evacuation of British nationals from Sudan.
‘We have started contacting nationals directly and providing routes for departure out of the country.’
Also writing on Twitter, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said those most at risk would be prioritised in the evacuation.
He said: ‘The government has begun a large-scale evacuation of British passport holders from Sudan on RAF flights.
‘Priority will be given to the most vulnerable, including families with children and the elderly.
‘I pay tribute to the British Armed Forces, diplomats and Border Force staff carrying out this complex operation.
‘The UK will continue to work to end the bloodshed in Sudan and support a democratic government.’
British diplomats in the capital Khartoum, as well as their family members and other embassy residents, were flown out of the country on Sunday night following a daring operation led by the SAS under heavy gunfire.
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Foreign Secretary James Cleverly has said the government is now directly reaching out to UK citizens in Sudan.
