Sudan, located in Northeast Africa, boasts a vast landmass of 1,886,068 square kilometers, making it the third-largest country in Africa and the Arab League. However, its population of 45.7 million people as of 2022 means that it is not one of the most densely populated countries on the continent.
Sudan shares its borders with several neighboring countries, including Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Chad, and the Central African Republic, as well as the Red Sea. Notably, the country was the largest in both Africa and the Arab League until South Sudan gained independence in 2011.
Sudan has been plunged into violent chaos as power struggles between two of its most influential military figures erupted into open battles on the streets of Khartoum. Army commander Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and his deputy, Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, have been at loggerheads over the internationally-brokered plan for a transition to civilian rule.
The conflict between the two leaders intensified on April 15, 2023, as troops, tanks, and planes took to the streets, leading to a death toll of 400 people and leaving at least 3,500 injured. Among the fatalities were three workers from the World Food Program, causing the organization to suspend its operations in the country to safeguard their staff.
According to Channels Television, the Nigerian government has established a committee to facilitate the rescue of its citizens who are trapped in Sudan due to the ongoing unrest in the North African country. This announcement was made in a statement released by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) on Saturday.
Previously, the Federal Government had expressed concern about the difficulties it was facing in evacuating Nigerians from Sudan, as the deadly crisis continues to escalate. Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) Chairman, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, had tweeted that authorities were struggling to airlift citizens out of the troubled country.
NEMA, together with its partners, are working tirelessly to ensure the safe evacuation of Nigerian citizens stranded in Sudan due to the ongoing crisis. Despite the complex and challenging nature of the emergency situation in Sudan, NEMA states that they’re constantly compiling updated information and exploring all possible options to bring the stranded Nigerians back home to their loved ones.
