The European Union is stepping up contacts to obtain a ceasefire in Sudan and to be able to evacuate by land its some 1,500 nationals caught in the fighting in Khartoum, a European official announced on Friday.
“
The evacuation cannot be done through the airport, which is closed, but by land and we need a three-day ceasefire to carry out such an operation,
” he told the press. AFP.
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Security conditions are not met to consider such an operation at the moment, but we will be ready when the time comes
,” he added.
The operation is coordinated by France and Greece, it was said.
The situation in Sudan will be discussed at the meeting of EU foreign ministers on Monday in Luxembourg.
“The stability of the region is at stake”
The head of European diplomacy Josep Borrell is increasing contacts with the leaders of the countries of the region.
He spoke with the Secretary General of the Arab League and with the Egyptian Minister of Foreign Affairs.
Intense fighting opposes the regular army of General Abdel Fattah al-Burhane, de facto leader of Sudan since the putsch of 2021, and the paramilitaries of the Rapid Support Forces (FSR) of General Mohamed Hamdane Daglo.
The EU has a delegation in Khartoum and seven countries (France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, Greece and the Czech Republic) have representations in the Sudanese capital.
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It is up to African organizations to work for a ceasefire.
The stability of the region is at stake
”, a European source insisted.
The belligerents have ignored multiple calls for a ceasefire on the occasion of the Eid-el-Fitr holiday, the end of the holy month of Ramadan.
