Summary:

On 26 April 2023, a Tunisian military plane landed at Tunis-Carthage Airport carrying 46 Tunisian evacuees from Sudan. The Tunisian Ambassador to Khartoum, Shawfik al Hajji, was reportedly one of the individuals aboard the flight. 

On 15 April, fighting broke out in Sudan between the country’s military and a powerful paramilitary militia known as the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The Sudanese military, led by General Abdel Fatteh Burhan, and the RSF, led by General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, are locked in a violent struggle over who will run the country. Sudan is resource rich and strategically positioned at a geopolitical and economic crossroads, but has long been plagued by civil war and internecine conflicts. 

On 24 April, the Tunisian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Defense began taking steps to evacuate Tunisians from Sudan. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that “all members of the Tunisian community have been contacted, and a list of names of those wishing to return has been drawn up, and the latter have been informed of the exact place and time for their transfer.”

The Tunisian Ambassador noted that there had been approximately 150 Tunisian citizens in Sudan, though around 20 had left before the fighting broke out.

Outlook:  

As is the case with many countries, Tunisia’s diplomatic operations in Sudan will be limited until the fighting ends and stability returns to Khartoum and the surrounding areas. Many countries continue to work to evacuate their citizens as fighting continues sporadically despite a ceasefire announced 25 April and extended on 28 April. 

Instability in Sudan could impact countries across the region, with Egypt and Libya in particular maintaining a strong interest in the conflict unfolding along their southern borders.

Our team is continuing to monitor events in Sudan and the potential for broader regional impacts.

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