The operation to remove German and partner state citizens from Sudan is “in progress”, Foreign Minister Analena Burbock said earlier this evening, thanking the German armed forces for their services so far.

The Bundeswehr has so far evacuated more than 300 people, in three flights with military Airbus A400M. About 150 of them are German, among them all the workers at the German embassy in Khartoum, while the rest come from 20 countries, including Belgium, Britain, Jordan, the Netherlands and African countries, Ms. Burbock said, according to during a late night meeting with Defense Minister Boris Pistorius. “The forces of the Bundeswehr, the Federal Police and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs saved lives with their courage. Despite our gratitude, it is not yet time to breathe a sigh of relief,” he said, adding that within the day another 100 or so people would leave Sudan on another German flight. “If everything goes well, the number of repatriates will exceed 400,” noted Mr. Pistorius and spoke of “a really big success in such a short period of time.” The extremely difficult mission developed without problems, without damage, he characteristically said.

Ms Burbock also said there were still Germans in Sudan and assured that the crisis management team at the Foreign Office was working to find escape routes. However, she explained that no evacuation operation is planned for the on-site staff of the German embassy, ​​as had happened in Afghanistan, when the Taliban took power, since, in the case of the Sudanese, the locals are not threatened with persecution. Furthermore, these workers did not express a desire to leave the country.