India Launches Operation Kaveri To Evacuate Citizens Stranded In Sudan

New Delhi: India launched 'Operation Kaveri' on Monday to return its people from Sudan, which has been witnessing fierce fighting as a result of a power struggle between the regular army and a paramilitary team. The effort to evacuate Indian citizens from Sudan is underway, according to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, and about 500 nationals have arrived in Port Sudan. "Operation Kaveri gets underway to bring back our citizens stranded in Sudan. About 500 Indians have reached Port Sudan. More on their way," Jaishankar, currently on a visit to the Caribbean region, tweeted.

"Our ships and aircraft are set to bring them back home. Committed to assisting all our brethren in Sudan," he said. India on Sunday said it has positioned two transport aircraft of the IAF in the Saudi Arabian city of Jeddah and naval ship INS Sumedha at Port Sudan as part of its contingency plans to evacuate the stranded Indians.

Indian citizens stranded in Sudan

On Friday, the ministry stated that it was focusing on the safety of approximately 3,000 Indian citizens who were temporarily scattered across Sudan. For the past 11 days, Sudan has seen violent conflict between the country's army and a paramilitary group, which has reportedly killed 400 people.

Here's what S. Jaishankar said:

Jaishankar's announcement on the evacuation operation came a day after the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said that contingency plans to bring back the Indians from Sudan have been put in place but noted that any movement on the ground would depend on the security situation.

It said the security situation in Sudan continues to be "volatile" with reports of fierce fighting coming from various locations in the country's capital Khartoum. "Two Indian Air Force C-130J are currently positioned on standby in Jeddah. And, INS Sumedha has reached Port Sudan," it said.

"Contingency plans are in place but any movement on the ground would depend on the security situation, which continues to be volatile with reports of fierce fighting at various locations in Khartoum," the MEA said.

India is also actively cooperating with other partner countries to ensure the safe transit of Indians who are stranded in Sudan and wish to be evacuated. Apart from Sudanese authorities, the MEA and the Indian embassy in Sudan have maintained constant contact with the UN, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, and the United States, among others.

PM Modi high level meeting

Prime Minister Narendra Modi directed the creation of contingency plans to remove Indians from Sudan during a high-level meeting on Friday. Following the discussion, the PMO stated that Modi directed staff to establish contingency evacuation preparations, taking into account Sudan's fast-altering security landscape and the viability of alternative options.

Last week, Jaishankar spoke to his counterparts from Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Egypt on the ground situation in Sudan with a focus on ensuring the safety of the Indians. On Thursday, Jaishankar discussed the situation in Sudan with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.

In a related development, France evacuated five Indians as part of its evacuation mission from Sudan, along with people from 27 other countries. According to the French embassy in India, 388 individuals were evacuated from 28 nations, including India.

Violence erupted in Sudan's Capital

On April 15, violence erupted in Sudan's capital Khartoum and across the country between forces loyal to army leader Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and his deputy-turned-rival Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, who leads the formidable paramilitary Rapid Support Forces. Former comrades gained power in a coup in 2021, but afterwards feuded in a bitter power battle.

"French evacuation operations are underway. Last night, two military flight rotations evacuated 388 people from 28 countries, including Indian nationals," it tweeted. French diplomatic sources said five Indian nationals were among those evacuated by France from Sudan. They said the evacuation operations were launched on Saturday and they were carried out by the French Air Force using A400M aircraft from the French military base in Djibouti.