PM Narendra Modi Chairs Meeting On Sudan Crisis, Directs Officials To Make Contingency Evacuation Plans

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday chaired a high-level meeting to review the situation of Indians in violence-hit Sudan. He directed officials to prepare contingency evacuation plans and assessed the most recent developments in the country.

"During the meeting, Prime Minister Modi assessed the most recent developments in Sudan and received a first-hand report of the conditions on the ground, with specific focus on the safety of over 3,000 Indian citizens presently located throughout the country," said the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) in a statement.

Sudan is currently witnessing widespread violence between the country's regular army and a paramilitary force called Rapid Support Forces (RSF), both of whom are engaged in a power struggle. At least 330 have been killed and 3,300 have been wounded since fighting began on Saturday, according to World Health Organization (WHO). The AP reported that the toll is likely higher because many bodies lie uncollected in the streets.

Modi instructed relevant officials to remain vigilant, closely monitor developments in Sudan, and evaluate safety of Indian nationals there. He also directed preparation of contingency evacuation plans, accounting for the rapidly shifting security landscape and viability of various options.

The PMO further said, "The Prime Minister also emphasised the importance of maintaining close communication with neighbouring countries in the region, as well as those with significant numbers of citizens in Sudan."

India on Thursday said the situation in Sudan is "very tense" and the government is focusing on ensuring the safety and well-being of the Indian community, including working on contingency plans and possible evacuation.

Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said the Indian embassy in Sudan is engaged with the countries in the region as well as other nations that have a key role to play, particularly the US, the UK, Saudi Arabia and the UAE.

On the death of the Indian national, Bagchi said the mortal remains of the deceased had been moved from his apartment complex into a mortuary in a hospital. The PMO statement on Thursday said Modi expressed his condolences on the death.

"The Prime Minister expressed his condolences on the passing away of an Indian national who tragically fell victim to a stray bullet last week," said the PMO in a statement.

Sudan's military rules out talks with rival

Sudan's military ruled out negotiations with a rival paramilitary force on Thursday, saying it would only accept its surrender as the two sides continued to battle in central Khartoum and other parts of the country, threatening to wreck the latest attempt at a cease-fire.

The military's statement raised the likelihood of a renewed surge in the nearly week-long violence that has pushed Sudan's population to the breaking point. 

Alarm has grown that the country's medical system was on the verge of collapse, with many hospitals forced to shut down and others running out of supplies.

The 24-hour cease-fire, declared Wednesday evening, had brought only marginal calm to parts of the capital of Khartoum, but many residents took advantage to flee the homes where they have been trapped for days. 

“Massive numbers” of people, mostly women and children, were leaving in search of safer areas, said Atiya Abdulla Atiya, secretary of the Doctors' Syndicate.

Hours before the truce was set to end, the military said in a statement that it would not negotiate with its rival, the Rapid Support Forces, over an end to the crisis and would only discuss terms of its surrender. 

“There would be no armed forces outside (of) the military system,” it said.

If the truce collapses completely, it would mark the second failure by the international community to push Sudan's two top generals — army chief Gen. Abdel Fattah Burhan and RSF commander Gen. Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo — to halt their battle for control of the country.

A similar truce Tuesday, which came after U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke by phone with both generals, collapsed almost immediately. 

Diplomatic efforts had been on to salvage to latest attempt. On Thursday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan spoke with the two generals as well, urging a return to dialogue. The leaders of Egypt, which is allied to Sudan's military, and of the United Arab Emirates, which is linked to the RSF, also spoke Thursday on how to turn the cease-fire into negotiations.

(With PTI and AP inputs)