Coups, Coups, Coups

[BansheeOne]

Multiple Western nations including Germany which had hoped for a ceasefire today reportedly aborted missions to evacuate their citizens from Khartoum when fighting in the city continued. A more robust operation may now be in the offing.

[Murph]

Again, nation building is for idiots, let them settle their own issues, why spend any blood on some other country?  Especially one that as soon as the latest installed kleptocrat is deposed/shot/hung/etc will become an Islamic paradise and hate the Great Satan.  Not worth time, lives, or money.

[DKTanker]

6 hours ago, Murph said:

Again, nation building is for idiots, let them settle their own issues, why spend any blood on some other country?  Especially one that as soon as the latest installed kleptocrat is deposed/shot/hung/etc will become an Islamic paradise and hate the Great Satan.  Not worth time, lives, or money.

I pine for the days of yore when we could upvote posts.

[Murph]

?????

[R011]

8 hours ago, Murph said:

Again, nation building is for idiots, let them settle their own issues, why spend any blood on some other country?  Especially one that as soon as the latest installed kleptocrat is deposed/shot/hung/etc will become an Islamic paradise and hate the Great Satan.  Not worth time, lives, or money.

Who's proposing nation building in Sudan?  At most, there might be a very brief intervention to secure an airport so Westerners can evacuate, followed by a quicjk departure.

Edited April 20, 2023 by R011

[Stargrunt6]

Uh, smells like peacekeeping operation inbound

[WRW]

Worked in the Sudan years ago. Interesting place but not a place to go back to.

[TrustMe]

Is their any oil in Sudan? 😀😀😀

[Murph]

14 hours ago, R011 said:

Who's proposing nation building in Sudan?  At most, there might be a very brief intervention to secure an airport so Westerners can evacuate, followed by a quicjk departure.

We can only hope so.  But I am jaded that some NeoCon or WarWhore will decide to "assist", and get into another forever war.  

[Der Zeitgeist]

3 minutes ago, Murph said:

We can only hope so.  But I am jaded that some NeoCon or WarWhore will decide to "assist", and get into another forever war.  

In 2003, were you in favor of invading Iraq? Yes or no?

[urbanoid]

It's really hilarious how now it's the Republicans who are 'anti-war' and accuse the other side of being 'warwhores'. How the turntables...

 

As for my stance on Iraq (just our participation), I agree with what one of my professors said, which was roughly: it wasn't about who we were invading, but with whom, it was in our interest to stand by the United States and against France and Germany, which for all intents and purposes were standing with Russia. 

 

[Murph]

4 hours ago, Der Zeitgeist said:

In 2003, were you in favor of invading Iraq? Yes or no?

No.  I thought it was the wrong war.  We were after Bin Laden.

[NickM]

10 hours ago, TrustMe said:

Is their any oil in Sudan? 😀😀😀

According to a college classmate of mine (who's father worked for Chevron and WAS IN Sudan--SecState Blinkin referred to Sudan being 'resource rich') rather a lot==but it was in too violent and unstable a region to safely work in (IE: Darfur and South Sudan), so the company bugged out==in spite of virtue signallers' best efforts to mix us up in Darfur==and we never went back.

Edited April 20, 2023 by NickM

[WRW]

19 hours ago, TrustMe said:

Is their any oil in Sudan? 😀😀😀

Maybe down South..maybe. but South is not Sudan or at least was not...that may change

[urbanoid]

Most of the oil and gas deposits are in South Sudan. In case of oil those reserves are reported to be third largest in Africa, after Nigeria and Angola.

During the negotiations about independence of South Sudan, there was an agreement about Sudan receiving half of oil revenues from the South. Landlocked South Sudan also relies on Sudan for transit of the exported oil.

[BansheeOne]

Quote

Sudan paramilitary forces agree to 72-hour Eid truce

Published 8 hours ago last updated 1 hour ago

More than 400 people have died and thousands have been wounded since fighting between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary RSF erupted on the weekend.

Sudan's paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) announced they had agreed to a 72-hour humanitarian truce from 6 a.m. local time (0400 GMT) on Friday to coincide with the Muslim holiday Eid al-Fitr.

According to the RSF, the truce was meant to create humanitarian corridors to allow civilians to evacuate and reunite with their loved ones.

There has been no official response from the Sudanese army. 

UN cease-fire call

The power struggle between Sudan's army chief, General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and RSF leader General Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, also known as Hemeti, has already claimed 413 lives. The World Health Organization said more than 3,500 people had been wounded.

Early Friday, bombing and artillery shelling rang through the streets of Sudan's capital, Khartoum, despite behind-the-scenes truce negotiations.

[...]

A coalition of civil groups had announced that they had put forward a three-day truce proposal to the rival sides and that they had responded favorably. "We welcome the positive position of the leadership of the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF)," the group said.

'No option but decisive military action'

However, as battles raged, Burhan dismissed any prospects for negotiations with Daglo, telling broadcaster Al Jazeera that he saw no option but "decisive military" action without "any room for talks over politics."

Daglo said the RSF's agreement to stop fighting for the Eid holiday was purely to allow civilians to get to safety. "We are talking about a humanitarian truce, we are talking about safe passages ... we are not talking about sitting down with a criminal," he said, referring to Burhan.

In his first speech since the outbreak of fighting a week ago, Burhan said in a video message Friday that the military remained committed to a transition to civilian rule, but he made no mention of a truce.

[...]

Germany plans second airlift attempt

Germany's armed forces will try for a second time to evacuate German citizens from Sudan, a Defense Ministry spokesman told dpa news agency on Friday.

"The Bundeswehr is preparing options for the repatriation of German citizens and other persons to be protected from Sudan," he said. "In this context, the protection of our citizens in Sudan is the priority," he said. 

The spokesman did not provide details on the size, personnel or supplies needed for the possible evacuation mission. 

German media reported that around 150 Germans are waiting to flee Sudan.

On Wednesday, the Bundeswehr attempted to evacuate German citizens by plane, but the security situation was deemed too dangerous to proceed.

A Foreign Ministry spokesperson said the situation on the ground in Sudan "remains drastic." 

The spokesperson said many Germans are stranded in their homes with no electricity, making it difficult for authorities to keep in touch with them as their cellphone batteries are running low.

The ministry underlined the demand for a cease-fire to allow people to stay safe and ensure the delivery of fresh supplies.

[...]

https://www.dw.com/en/sudan-rsf-fighters-agree-to-72-hour-eid-truce-but-clashes-continue/a-65392485

Several nations are reportedly moving military assets to bases they're already using closer to the scene - the US, Japan and probably France to Djibouti, Germany and the Netherlands to Jordania, the UK to Cyprus.

Edited April 21, 2023 by BansheeOne

[futon]

Japan dispatched a C-130 to Djibouti. While in the region, still 1200km away from Khartoum. A C-2 and a KC-767 are being ready for standby. About 60 Japanese nationals in the country and for evacuations. B1's article mentions 150 from Germany wanting to flee. Evacuations can be difficult considering the Afghanistan example. One report says one American has died from the fighting. Apparantly reportedly an estimated 19,000 Americans in Sudan, of which how many are to be evacuees, most I assume.

[futon]

Maybe connected to a lattice of stuff going on in Sudan but Russia is getting naval access to a Sudan port in the Red Sea.

https://apnews.com/article/politics-sudan-government-moscow-803738fba4d8f91455f0121067c118dd

Edited April 21, 2023 by futon

[WRW]

19 hours ago, futon said:

Japan dispatched a C-130 to Djibouti. While in the region, still 1200km away from Khartoum. A C-2 and a KC-767 are being ready for standby. About 60 Japanese nationals in the country and for evacuations. B1's article mentions 150 from Germany wanting to flee. Evacuations can be difficult considering the Afghanistan example. One report says one American has died from the fighting. Apparantly reportedly an estimated 19,000 Americans in Sudan, of which how many are to be evacuees, most I assume.

19000 ..doing what?

[futon]

2 hours ago, WRW said:

19000 ..doing what?

That's what I'm wondering.

[Der Zeitgeist]

4 hours ago, WRW said:

19000 ..doing what?

Fleeing from gun violence at home. 😅

[EchoFiveMike]

Paperwork citizenship.  S/F....Ken M

[BansheeOne]

Of the six or so German aircraft deployed to or headed for the region, one is currently crossing the Red Sea from Al Azrak Airbase, Jordania. Lots of other assets in place.

Quote

Evacuation of diplomats and citizens in Sudan, an operation in preparation

April 22th  Nicolas Gros Verheyde

(B2) European countries are working closely with their allies to carry out an evacuation operation for European and foreign citizens stranded in Khartoum. Airplanes and special forces preposition themselves. A hub has been set up in Djibouti. Evacuation operation takes shape

Not an easy operation

Everyone is preparing to evacuate both the diplomats stationed in Sudan and the citizens. An operation not obvious. There are about 1500 Europeans in Sudan, including 300 Greeks (the largest community), 150 French, and about 60 Spaniards. But the largest community remains American, with nearly 19.000 people. There are also several hundred Britons, 60 Japanese, Koreans, etc. Khartoum airport is (for now) closed. As for the land route, mentioned for a moment, it remains long, at least from the Sudanese capital (more than 1000 km to Wadi Haifa and Egypt or Port Sudan) and risky. But it could be practical for towns in the North (Dongola, etc.) or in the West, close to Chad (El Geneina, Al Fasher) or the Central African Republic (Nyala).

[...]

Djibouti assembly point

In the meantime, several transport planes and special forces are gathering in neighboring countries. At least two A400M transport planes and a French C130 plane have thus been prepositioned on Djibouti air base 188, ready to make an airlift if necessary with Sudan (the distance as the crow flies is 1200 km or 2 -3 hours of flight on average). On board, special forces, probably from the marine commandos of Lorient (Forfusco). According to our information, the French could take care, in addition to their own citizens, of the EU delegation, Belgians and other nationalities. The Spanish general staff also dispatched several planes to Djibouti: an A330 MRTT and three A400M planes according to the spanish sources. With special forces on board. The Greeks and Italians are also mobilizing forces.

Jordan backstitch

The Germans are also preparing troops. They pre-positioned two or three A400M planes, as Thomas Wiegold from Augergeradeaus, based in Al Azrak, Jordan, well known to the Germans for being used in support of the anti-Daesh coalition. Paratroopers on board. The Dutch also sent an A-330 strategic transport plane, with a medical team and marines on board, as well as a C-130 type tactical plane, which arrived in Aqaba (Jordan) on Wednesday (April 19) to the area. All followed by a second C-130 aircraft. A Norwegian C-130 aircraft is also prepositioned in Amman.

Americans, Japanese, British

The United States, the most concerned of the Allies, has mobilized resources. I'US Africa Com (US Africa Command) plans carefully "and different" additional abilities "have been deployed" nearby in the area » (NB: Djibouti mainly) to "for emergency purposes » and to parry « to different eventualities confirmed the US State Department spokesperson on Friday (April 21). C-130 or C-17 planes took off from European bases (notably Sigonella in Italy). Two C-130 and Kawasaki C2 (the Japanese A400M) tactical transport planes and a KC767 tanker and transport plane from the Japanese Air Self-Defense Force are joining Djibouti, according to the TV Japanese. The South Korean Ministry of Defense announced the departure of a C-130J plane with about XNUMX soldiers on board, including medical and security personnel, according to the agencies. British and Jordanians are also mobilized.

Emergency coordination

A coordination unit has been set up, bringing together all the States concerned (French, Americans, Spanish, Dutch, etc.). All these countries know Djibouti well. France, like the USA and Japan, have a permanent military base there. The small state on the East African coast has also served as an air and sea hub for the EU's anti-piracy operation (EUNAVFOR Atalanta). And until recently, both Germans and Japanese had an advanced base there on or near the airport. The Spaniards are still there with a maritime patrol plane (Casa CN-235) and the frigate Reina Sofia, flagship of Atalanta, which has its (provisional) home port in Djibouti.

[...]

https://www.bruxelles2.eu/en/2023/04/actualite-evacuation-des-diplomates-et-citoyens-au-soudan-une-operation-en-preparation/

[futon]

To fill in ROK's number of people:

There are about 1500 Europeans in Sudan, including 300 Greeks (the largest community), 150 French, and about 60 Spaniards. But the largest community remains American, with nearly 19.000 people. There are also several hundred Britons, 60 Japanese, [29] Koreans, etc. 

https://m.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20230422000098

[Der Zeitgeist]

The US got a limited number out now. From the forces that were flown into the region recently, it looks like there may be more to come.