The Japanese government has ordered the Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) to dispatch aircraft to Djibouti in preparation for the evacuation of approximately 60 Japanese nationals from Sudan. The move comes as military clashes in Sudan continue to intensify, leaving over 270 people dead and more than 2,600 others injured, according to the World Health Organization. The conflict has also made it difficult for people to evacuate, particularly from the airport in the capital, Khartoum.
Balon Greyjoy, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
The JASDF planes, which could include C-130 and C-2 transports, are expected to leave for Djibouti this week, where the Japan Self-Defense Force (JSDF) has a temporary base. From there, the aircraft will fly to Sudan to evacuate Japanese nationals. In the past, JSDF aircraft have been sent overseas to evacuate Japanese nationals on five occasions, and no cabinet approval is needed for such a dispatch.
For the mission, the JSDF will organize a joint task force headed by the commander of the JASDF’s Air Support Command. The task force, consisting of some 370 JASDF and Ground Self-Defense Force members, will work out evacuation routes and other mission details together with existing JSDF troops in Djibouti, who have been deployed to the African country for operations against pirates in the Gulf of Aden off Somalia.
In addition to the JASDF planes, the Japanese government is also considering using JSDF vehicles to transport Japanese nationals in Sudan to an airport in the northeastern African country. This would be the first time that the JSDF uses ground transportation for evacuating Japanese nationals abroad.
Speaking to the press on Thursday, Gen. Yoshihide Yoshida, chief of the JSDF’s Joint Staff, stated that they will prepare for the mission with a view to ground transportation. He further added that “at the moment, it is not certain what kind of mission it will be.”
Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno assured that the government is in touch with all Japanese citizens currently in Sudan and will work closely with other major countries, including the Group of Seven nations, to secure their safety. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is also expected to discuss the situation with the African Union, Arab League, and other organizations.
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