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Sudan update: Undocumented travellers denied entry into Egypt
Eight South Africans, seven Angolans, and one Lesotho national were in Sudan illegally.
In this image grab taken from handout video footage released by the Sudanese paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on 23 April 2023, fighters ride in the back of a technical vehicle (pickup truck mounted with a turret) in the East Nile district of greater Khartoum. A US-brokered ceasefire between Sudan’s warring generals entered its second day on 26 April 2023, but remained fragile after witnesses reported fresh air strikes and paramilitaries claimed to have seized a major oil refinery and power plant. Image: Rapid Support Forces (RSF) / AFP
The Department of International Relations and Cooperation (Dirco) says several people evacuated from conflict-ridden Sudan have been denied entry to Egypt.
Department spokesperson Clayson Monyela said eight South Africans, seven Angolans, and one Lesotho national were in Sudan illegally.
“They’re safe but still haven’t crossed the border. We are negotiating with the Egyptians and will resolve this. They have not been abandoned,” said Monyela.
“Evacuations are never easy or without challenges. The important thing was to get people out of harm’s way. Saudi Arabia has also agreed to receive SA nationals who made it to Port Sudan.”
Monyela said the evacuations have not been easy and posed many logistical challenges.
“There are many nationals of other countries all desperately trying to get out. People are hungry, desperate, tired and deprived of sleep, but we must get the job done,” he said.
“The goal remains to ensure that everyone comes home safely.”
ALSO READ: 77 South Africans still stuck in Sudan, govt’s evacuation plans hampered by fighting
South Africans arrive safely in Egypt
On Tuesday, Dirco reported that two buses carrying South Africans caught in the warring Sudanese conflict had arrived safely in Egypt.
“We have officials from the SA Embassy in Egypt to receive them and facilitate their entry into Egypt,” Monyela said.
Monyela further confirmed that government would pay for South African flights back home.
“The support of everyone, including @GiftoftheGivers and the government of Egypt, is acknowledged and appreciated,” tweeted Monyela.
ALSO READ: Sudan: Raging battle sparks mass evacuations by countries
Gift of the Givers’ Imtiaz Sooliman told Talk Radio 702 they had arranged an additional bus for four South Africans who were left behind.
The organisation said it had also received a call from the Brazilian Embassy to assist nine people who were also stranded.
“Filipinos called us; they have four, there’s another Palestinian family and we are opening the bus to whoever wants to come,” said Sooliman.
At least 12 more nationals are expected to leave Sudan on Tuesday. “With this, everyone we know of will be accounted for,” confirmed Monyela.
Sporadic gunfire rang out in parts of the Sudanese capital Khartoum on Tuesday despite a US-brokered agreement between the warring sides to a ceasefire for 72 hours to pave the way for talks on a more lasting truce.
At least 427 people have been killed and more than 3 700 wounded, according to UN agencies. More than 4 000 people have fled the country in foreign-organised evacuations that began on Saturday.
Multiple nations have scrambled to evacuate embassy staff and citizens by road, air and sea from chaos-torn Sudan, where fighting between the army and paramilitaries has killed hundreds.
