Tanzanians in Sudan safe: Foreign Affairs Minister
Dodoma. Yesterday, the government allayed concerns about the safety of Tanzanians in Khartoum, the capital of Sudan.
The minister of Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation, Dr. Stergomena Tax, stated that no Tanzanians living in Sudan have been affected by the conflict thus far.
According to media reports, intense fighting is occurring in Khartoum between the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) and a paramilitary group, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), over control of Khartoum, with the death toll reaching 185 and the number of wounded surpassing one thousand, as of Monday, according to UN statistics.
According to the official doctors’ union, the actual death toll is believed to be significantly higher, as many wounded are unable to reach hospitals due to shelling.
About 39 of Khartoum’s 59 main hospitals are currently “out of service,” according to the union, which reported “severe shortages” in the remaining facilities.
The fighting has also resulted in property damage. “The government has maintained regular contact with our embassy in Khartoum to be aware of the situation on the ground.
Dr. Tax told the Dodoma Parliament yesterday that at least 210 Tanzanians are living in Sudan, of which 171 are students and the rest are embassy officials and other citizens.
She added, “No Tanzanians are known to have been affected by the fighting thus far.” The Tanzanian government, in cooperation with neighboring countries, regional communities, the African Union, and the United Nations, is taking the necessary steps to ensure the safety of its citizens.
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She said mediation had led to a 24-hour ceasefire on Tuesday at 16:00 GMT to allow humanitarian aid.
Yesterday, international media reports indicated that the ceasefire did not hold, as fighting continued on Wednesday morning. Some governments have begun evacuating their citizens from Khartoum following the attack on diplomats.
Japan’s defense ministry has begun “necessary preparations” for the evacuation of approximately sixty nationals, including embassy personnel, from Sudan.
On Wednesday, Germany aborted an evacuation involving three military transport planes and 150 citizens, according to Der Spiegel.
Dr. Tax informed parliamentarians yesterday that evacuation plans have been established in the event of an emergency.
She said Tanzania condemns the fighting and calls for a ceasefire as an African Union (AU) Peace and Security Council (PSC) member.
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“Tanzania urges the warring parties to end their conflicts peacefully and to permit the delivery of humanitarian aid. She noted that the parties should also ensure the security and well-being of Sudanese and foreign nationals.
Saturday morning, violence erupted in Sudan’s densely populated capital, Khartoum, and spread to other cities and the Darfur region.
There were reports of the use of heavy weaponry, including tanks, in the capital. The army and the RSF, founded in 2013 by former dictator Omar al-Bashir, have been at odds for years, leading to Saturday’s violence.
According to Human Rights Watch HRW, the clashes followed weeks of escalating tension between the two forces over security force reform during negotiations for a new transitional government and preceded the SAF and RAF’s October 2021 overthrow of Sudan’s transitional government.
“Sudan’s military leaders are disregarding the hopes and rights of the Sudanese people once again. When fighting occurs in densely populated areas, both sides must take precautions to protect civilians. Mr. Mohamed Osman, an HRW researcher, was cited.
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