In South Sudan, we evacuate (Maj1)
(BRUSSELS2) Faced with increased insecurity in Juba, where violent fighting broke out between the regular armed forces and the armed opposition, the evacuation of foreign nationals (diplomats, aid workers, members of NGOs) has begun.
154 foreigners already evacuated
The Bundeswehr sent several Transalls to the South Sudanese capital to evacuate a total of 154 people: 32 Germans and 122 other foreigners from 31 different nations, according to the count provided by the German federal crisis center (operation evacuation was coordinated by the Crisis Staff of the German Foreign Ministry). They were repatriated to nearby Uganda (to Entebbe).
Three Transall required for evacuation
Three Transall C-160 D type aircraft - equipped with ballistic protection against small arms and extended self-protection (ESS), infrared decoy launchers - participated in the evacuation operations.
The first Transall came from Mali, taken from the German contingent of MINUSMA. He landed on Wednesday in Juba, repatriating the first 49 people (including 19 Germans). 4 injured UN blue helmets were also repatriated to Uganda with a medical team on board.
Two other Transalls from Germany made a stopover in Djibouti and arrived in the South Sudanese capital on Wednesday morning. A second wave of German, European, North American, African and Asian nationals were able to be repatriated to Entebbe. One of the Transalls made a second shuttle during the day to repatriate the last nationals.
German embassy closed
German Embassy staff have left the country. For the German ambassador in Juba, Johannes Lehne, he " there was no choice but to evacuate. Fierce street fighting erupted right in front of the homes of many staff and aid workers. (...) After four days and nights of intense fighting, the only option was evacuation. »
The Americans send men in protection
The 15 German military observers deployed within the framework of the United Nations UNMISS mission "remain in the country and continue their activity", it is specified in Berlin. The American president has decided to send soldiers to protect the diplomatic installations (47 men have already arrived in Juba. And 130 are on alert at the permanent base in Djibouti, at Camp Lemonnier).
(Nicolas Gros-Verheyde)