Over 200 Iraqis repatriated from conflict-hit Sudan

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Iraq’s government on Thursday evacuated over 200 of its citizens from Sudan where a conflict has claimed the lives of hundreds of people. 

Intense fighting in Sudan between forces of army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and his deputy Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, the commander of the powerful paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) more commonly referred to as Hemeti, has killed at least 459 people and injured over 4,000 others since clashes erupted earlier this month, according to the World Health Organization. An Iraqi citizen is among the dead.  

Iraq’s foreign ministry said on Thursday that it repatriated 234 nationals earlier in the day from Sudan. This is the second group of Iraqis to be brought out of the country. The first group included diplomatic staff.  

The plane also carried 16 Syrians who were stuck in Sudan, added the ministry. 

“You can’t go out and can’t know what is happening outside because your life is at risk,” returnee Mohammed Yasin told Rudaw’s Anmar Ghazi after landing in Baghdad. 

Ahmed Baldawi, another returnee, said that he did not expect to arrive in Iraq safely, adding that two hours after they left Khartoum the city came under bombardment.  

Multiple ceasefires have been agreed between the two warring sides in Sudan but have been ignored. 

Ahmed al-Sahaf, spokesperson for the Iraqi ministry, said last week that Iraq is “working with the highest priority” to assist its community trapped in Sudan and coordinate with authorities to ensure their safety.