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The Swedes in Sudan were quickly evacuated by convoy to avoid the fighting.
In reports to the Foreign Ministry, Ambassador Signe Burgstaller testifies to extensive artillery shelling in the immediate vicinity of the embassy and the emissaries’ residences days before help arrived.
“The situation is messy and it is difficult to get hard facts about who is in actual control of strategic locations.” she writes.
The first evacuation of Swedes out of war-torn Sudan began at 5 pm last Sunday.
In a convoy of cars and buses, 25 Swedes, including 6 children, left the capital Khartoum. They were driven to a military airfield north of the city, later that night they were picked up by a French military transport plane bound for Djibouti.
– It is with joy and relief that we can announce that all deployed personnel have been evacuated from Sudan. The security situation in Sudan is extremely difficult, said Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson (M) afterwards.
Fighting in the vicinity of the embassy and emissary housing
In reports to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Sweden, the Swedish ambassador Signe Burgstaller testifies to how close the fighting was to her and the other Swedes.
“On Saturday, April 15, fierce fighting broke out between the SAF and the RSF in Khartoum. Since then, there have been very extensive battles with artillery shelling in various parts of Khartoum, including in the immediate vicinity of the embassy, the residence and the residences of the other emissaries,” she writes in a report exactly one week before the evacuation was carried out.
The SAF is the Sudan Armed Forces, the RSF a paramilitary force.
The ambassador goes on to say that the situation is very messy and that it is difficult to get information about which groups have control over various strategic locations, for example the international airport and the presidential palace.
In a follow-up report, sent two days later, the ambassador warns that the war could spread and threaten oil exports and food supplies.
Operation completed
Despite the evidence of extensive fighting, the evacuation could be carried out reasonably safely.
– The convoy had to make changes to its route on a few occasions due to unrest, but arrived happily at the airbase, said Foreign Minister Tobias Billström (M) at a press conference afterwards.
This week, additional Swedes have been evacuated from Sudan, in total around 100 Swedes have been flown out of the country. On Thursday morning, the government announced that the Swedish evacuation effort has ended.
– There have been demanding circumstances. The conditions have been difficult and dangerous, said Defense Minister Pål Jonson (M) at a press conference.
Parts of the reports are covered by confidentiality, where the text is masked. Aftonbladet has contacted ambassador Signe Burgstaller, but she has not returned a response.