Around 3,500 Indians and 1,000-odd Indian-origin persons (PIOs) are stranded in Sudan at the moment. "These are approximate numbers," said foreign secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra during his briefing of Operation Kaveri.

He said the Indian government has initiated an online registration process for the evacuation and around 3,400 Indians, so far, have registered on it or are in touch with the Indian Mission.

"We are monitoring the situation that has erupted after clashes between the Sudanese army and Rapid Support Force since April 15," he said, adding that several ceasefires have been announced. However, some of them have not been honoured, some are partial. He said the situation on the ground remains volatile and it is difficult to access the area outside Khartoum.

Nearly 1,100 Indians have been rescued from Sudan under Operation Kaveri amid ongoing violence in the African nation.

On April 27, another batch of evacuees flew back to Mumbai from Jeddah airport on an Indian Air Force C17 Globemaster flight, carrying 246 passengers. The first batch of 360 Indian nationals arrived in Delhi on April 26 after describing their experience in Sudan and their journey back like being on a "deathbed."

What is happening in Sudan?

The clashes are between the country’s army and a paramilitary force called the Rapid Support Forces in Sudan. The main disagreement is on the proposed move towards civilian rule and the plans to include the RSF in the army.

Also Read: Operation Kaveri brings around 1,100 Indians back home from Sudan — The journey so far in pictures

Two military men are at the centre of this power struggle — General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, head of the armed forces and leader of Sudan's ruling council since 2019 and General Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo (Hemedti), General Buhan's deputy on the council and leader of the RSF.

General Dagalo, in a series of tweets, has alleged that General Burhan’s government were “radical Islamists” and that he is fighting “to ensure the democratic progress” in the country.

General Burhan on the other hand said that he supports civilian rule, but that he will only hand over power to an elected government

The RSF grew out of, and is primarily composed of, the Janjaweed militias which were used by the government of Sudan to stifle a rebellion in the Darfur region in the early 2000s. The RSF was officially formed in 2013. Since then, it’s been headed by Gen Dagalo. The RSF are outside of command of the regular armed forces.

Also, the Sudanese army and the RSF weren’t always involved in this power struggle; until a few years ago they were allies.

Much of the conflict is happening in densely populated urban areas and civilians have become its victims.

Also Read: Indians share ordeals after returning from violence-hit Sudan — 'We were like a dead body'

First Published:Apr 27, 2023 11:49 AM IST