PUTRAJAYA – Following a risk assessment by all concerned parties, Malaysians who were at the Petronas Khartoum Complex in Sudan have been successfully evacuated to a safe place late afternoon yesterday (Sudan time).
Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Zambry Abdul Kadir, in a statement, said Malaysia is taking steps to bring back all Malaysians as soon as the situation permits.
Following the escalating situation and following reports on the “forced takeover” of the complex, which also houses the Malaysian embassy, the Sudanese ambassador in Kuala Lumpur will be summoned to hear Malaysia’s views on the latest conflict.
“Apart from that, Malaysia also expressed its objection to the actions of certain parties who broke into the complex,” he said in a statement issued by the Foreign Ministry this evening.
Clashes erupted on Saturday between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Khartoum and the surrounding areas. More than 180 people were killed and 1,800 injured in the fighting, according to the United Nations.
Zambry also said that the crisis in Sudan affected all foreign embassy offices with reports of the European Union ambassador to Sudan being attacked, Japanese citizens being roughed up, US diplomatic vehicles being shot at, and the official residence of the Kuwaiti ambassador to Sudan being broke into.
He emphasised that the safety of all Malaysians in Sudan is the government’s priority with the special forces led by the Foreign Ministry having drawn up an evacuation plan to bring back 32 Malaysians based on the latest data shared by the Malaysian embassy in Khartoum.
The evacuation plan will be implemented immediately with friendly countries as soon as there is an opportunity to do so.
Zambry also asked for everyone’s cooperation – if there are family members who are in Sudan but still have not informed about their whereabouts due to communication constraints, they should immediately do so because it is important for planning the evacuation. – Bernama, April 18, 2023
