About 100 French and citizens of other countries have already removed from Sudan and as many others will follow, as was announced today by the ministries of Foreign Affairs and Armed Forces of France.

“A first aircraft departed from Khartoum and is expected to arrive in Djibouti around 18.00” while a second “is already in the area and is expected to take off at 17.30”. Each of them carries about 100 people, these sources added, clarifying that the discharge it may continue for a day or two more.

When asked about the firing on a motorcade, which some media reported wounded a Frenchman, diplomatic and military sources said that “they do not wish to comment on this type of rumour” while “the business is not yet complete”.

“We would not have done this if we did not have security guarantees from the warring parties, which they repeated many times,” they added.

Among the countries, which gthey rejected the help of France to remove their citizens, the Foreign Ministry source cited Germany, Switzerland, Britain, Belgium, Niger, Morocco, Egypt and Ethiopia. However, he did not specify whether citizens of these countries were on board the two aircraft.

From Amsterdam, Dutch Foreign Minister Wopke Hoekstra said some Dutch had managed to leave Khartoum on a French plane, commenting that it was a “very complex operation” being carried out with the help of France, Germany and other countries.

Hoekstra expressed hope that a larger group will be able to leave later tonight with the two military aircraft deployed by the Netherlands to Jordan last week to help with the evacuation.

In total, 150 Dutch citizens have asked their government to help them leave, according to a letter submitted to the Dutch parliament today.