International Efforts to Evacuate Citizens from Sudan Hindered by Delays and Sluggishness

The UK's attempts to evacuate embassy staff from Sudan delayed efforts by other countries to rescue their own citizens, according to senior German political sources. They allege that British forces landed in Sudan without the permission of the Sudanese army, angering them and causing them to refuse access to the airfield north of Khartoum. Germany, among others, had planned to use the airfield for evacuation operations. The UK Ministry of Defence denied any responsibility for the delay. Germany has now ended its rescue mission, after airlifting more than 700 people to safety on six flights.