The Nigerians in the Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) has announced that the Federal Government has successfully evacuated Nigerian citizens from Sudan who wished to return home.
This action follows a two-week expulsion notice issued by Sudanese authorities to all foreigners.
Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chief Executive Officer of NiDCOM, shared this update on Friday in Abuja.
Sudanese security authorities had previously ordered all foreigners to leave the capital, Khartoum, and surrounding regions, providing a two-week deadline for their departure.
This directive was issued by the police division responsible for dealing with foreigners, citing safety concerns amidst ongoing clashes between government forces and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) militia.
Reports indicate that hostility towards foreigners, particularly those from other African countries, has been increasing due to allegations of foreign mercenaries fighting with the RSF. Recently, over 150 foreigners without valid residence papers were detained.
Sudan has been mired in a violent power struggle for over a year between de facto ruler Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and his former deputy, Mohammed Hamdan Daglo. According to the UN, the conflict has displaced nearly 10 million people and raised the risk of famine.
Dabiri-Erewa emphasized that the war in Sudan had intensified and confirmed that no Nigerian was left behind. International aid organizations and diplomats had already relocated from Khartoum to Port Sudan, where the situation is relatively more stable.