Defence Cabinet Secretary (CS) Aden Duale, on Tuesday, April 25, announced that Kenya Airforce had rescued 39 students from the International University of Africa, Khartoum.
The students, according to CS Duale, travelled to South Sudan from Khartoum, risking their lives in the process as they had to evade heavy gunfire.
The first batch of evacuated Kenyans arrived in the country past midnight and was received by Defence, Foreign Affairs and Interior ministries officials.
“War knows no good neighbourhood. When it strikes, our priority is our nationals.“The 39, all students at the International University of Africa, Khartoum, were rescued at the Paloich Airport, South Sudan, by the Kenya Air Force after a long and tiresome trek, amidst the deafening sounds of guns and bazookas,” Duale told the press.
He also praised the youngsters who beat all odds to reach the evacuation centre in Paloich.
“I applauded the youngsters for their courage and resilience in braving the ongoing bloodbath and, further encouraged Kenyans stranded in Sudan and their families back home to continue registering with the State Department for Diaspora Affairs, for logistical purposes,” he stated.
Immediately after the first evacuation exercise, Principal Secretary at the State Department of Diaspora Affairs Roseline Njogu added that the exercise will continue over the next few days.
“We are evacuating those still in Sudan as well as those who boldly made it to border towns in South Sudan and Ethiopia,” the statement read in part.
The evacuation exercise is expected to intensify within 72 hours after Rapid Support Forces (RSF) agreed to a temporary cease-fire.
“Upon mediation by the United States, the Rapid Support Forces have agreed to a 72-hour humanitarian truce, effective at midnight tonight.
“This ceasefire aims to establish humanitarian corridors, allowing citizens and residents to access essential resources, healthcare, and safe zones, while also evacuating diplomatic missions,” the RSF stated on Monday, April 24.
Duale revealed that Kenya would continue pushing for a peaceful resolution process in Sudan.
“Our position as a country committed to regional peace and stability is similar to that of the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) as pronounced by President William Ruto,” remarked the Defence CS.
Ruto was among three Heads of State tasked by IGAD to mediate the conflict in Sudan. Others included South Sudan’s Salva Kiir and Ismail Omar Guelleh of Djibouti
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