The Spanish government announced on Sunday that it has proceeded with the hasty evacuation of about a hundred people from Sudan, amid several other missions to evacuate foreign nationals and diplomats, after more than a week of deadly fighting between the army and paramilitaries.

“A Spanish military aircraft took off from Khartoum shortly before 23:00 (00:00 Greek time) with approximately one hundred passengers,” according to a government statement, which clarified that the aircraft was traveling to Djibouti.

Spain announced this operation as several other countries – the US, Britain, France, Germany… – also removed their citizens or diplomatic personnel from Sudan.

Among the 100 on board the aircraft are thirty Spanish nationals and about 70 nationals of Portugal, Italy, Poland, Ireland, Mexico, Venezuela, Colombia, Argentina and Sudan, the Spanish Foreign Ministry explained.

“The transfer operation from the Spanish embassy in Khartoum (s.b. to the airport) took place without any unforeseen circumstances, thanks to the force” sent to guarantee the safety of the people who would be taken out of the country, according to the statement.

Madrid had made it known a few days ago that it was seeking to remove its citizens from Sudan, but was waiting for the moment when it would be safer to act.

Since April 15, the two generals who have been in power in Sudan since the 2021 coup have plunged into a merciless war.

According to World Health Organization (WHO) figures, the hostilities have killed more than 420 people and injured more than 3,700 others.