France begins evacuation of embassy staff, French and ‘allied’ citizens from Sudan

France has begun a “rapid evacuation operation” of citizens and diplomatic personnel from Sudan, the country’s foreign ministry announced in a statement on Sunday, Report informs via CNN.

This would include citizens of “European and allied partner” nations, the ministry said.

It comes amid evacuations of US government personnel and Iraqi diplomats from embassies in the capital Khartoum, as well as the first evacuations of civilians from countries like Qatar, Egypt, Canada, India, Burkina Faso and the United Arab Emirates by Saudi officials.

Fighting between two rival military factions in the country – the Sudanese Armed Forces and Rapid Support Forces (RSF) – continues despite a 72-hour truce declared for the Muslim holiday of Eid.

Loud explosions and clashes were reported early Sunday morning, particularly around the military headquarters and presidential palace in Khartoum.

Eyewitnesses told CNN that they could hear aerial attacks and heavy weapons being used in Khartoum as well as rocket launchers.