The United States is making preparations to send a significant number of extra troops to their military base in Djibouti to be on standby in case of an emergency evacuation of American citizens from Sudan.
This comes after two leaders from Sudan’s ruling council began a violent power struggle that has resulted in the loss of over 330 lives, which has further escalated the nation’s humanitarian crisis.
In response to this, the Pentagon has issued a statement outlining their contingency plan to deploy additional capabilities to the region to ensure the safety of US embassy personnel if necessary.
Djibouti plays a vital role in US operations across Africa and the Middle East, with the US having secured a 10-year lease on the base in 2014 and paying $63m annually. The White House has ordered the pre-positioning of military forces to be ready, and the State Department has advised US citizens in Sudan to remain sheltered in place indoors.
The US embassy in Khartoum has also stated that due to the current security situation and airport closures, it is not currently safe to undertake a US government-coordinated evacuation of private US citizens.
The fighting between the army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has been centered around Khartoum and Darfur, and the violence has been triggered by disagreements over an internationally backed plan to establish a new civilian government.
The United States, along with other international organizations, is working towards finding a political solution to this crisis. Thousands of civilians have fled Khartoum, with many also crossing into Chad to escape the fighting in Darfur.
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