Sudan’s Khartoum declares state of emergency, gives foreigners ultimatum to leave

The Governor of Khartoum, Ahmed Hamza, has issued a 15-day ultimatum to foreigners to leave the Sudanese capital and the surrounding region starting from Friday 12 July 2024. In a statement from the Sudanese embassy in Nigeria at the weekend, the governor said the order directing foreigners to leave Sudan is designed to tackle insecurity […]

The Governor of Khartoum, Ahmed Hamza, has issued a 15-day ultimatum to foreigners to leave the Sudanese capital and the surrounding region starting from Friday 12 July 2024.

In a statement from the Sudanese embassy in Nigeria at the weekend, the governor said the order directing foreigners to leave Sudan is designed to tackle insecurity in the country.

“Some nationals of the neighbouring countries and from the region have become key fighters and mercenaries in the ranks of the Militia Rapid Support Forces,” the statement alleged.

According to the statement, the order is to preserve lives during the period of war, based on the decision of the Khartoum State Security Affairs Coordination Committee.

“State authority gives foreigners a deadline to leave the state based on emergency. Khartoum state extended only 15 days as a deadline for foreigners to leave the state, based on a decision from the Security Committee.

“The committee held a meeting to follow up on the implementation of the curfew and motorcycle ban decision issued on July 11, 2024,” the statement read in part.

It explained that in early May, the governor of Khartoum had announced the approval of the head of the Sovereignty Council, Commander-in-Chief of the Army Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, to the state government’s recommendation to declare a state of emergency.

It further revealed that the Director of the Department of Foreigners and immigration Registration in Khartoum State had announced to all foreigners to leave Khartoum State within 15 days.

This, according to the statement, is to preserve the lives of foreigners during the period of war, based on the decision of the Khartoum State Security Affairs Coordination Committee.

Sudan is in the midst of a brutal civil war that began in April 2023 which pits the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) against the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a paramilitary group.

The power struggle between the leaders of these two groups, General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and Mohamed Hamdan “Hemedti” Dagalo, for control of Sudan has been devastating with records showing that thousands have been killed, millions displaced internally, and hundreds of thousands have fled to neighbouring countries.

The war has worsened a dire humanitarian situation with widespread hunger and a collapsing healthcare system.