On Friday, Sudanese security authorities issued orders for all foreigners to leave the capital, Khartoum, and its surrounding areas, granting them a two-week deadline for departure. These orders come amid ongoing fighting between the Sudanese army and Rapid Support Forces, coinciding with the resumption of regional and international efforts to resolve the conflict. Colonel Nizar Khalil, the Director of Foreigners and Immigration Control in Khartoum, stated that all foreigners have "15 days to leave Khartoum for their safety during the war." He noted that the decision was made based on directives from the Khartoum State Security Coordination Committee.
The police justified these orders as a means to protect the safety of foreigners who have not yet left Khartoum, despite the intense fighting that has persisted since April 2023. However, reports have linked the departure orders to increasing hostility towards foreigners in Khartoum and other Sudanese cities following reports of foreign mercenaries being among the Rapid Support Forces. Just a few days earlier, more than 150 foreigners without valid residence documents were arrested. Sudan has been experiencing violent clashes between the army and Rapid Support Forces since mid-April 2023 due to political and security disputes, resulting in approximately 13,900 deaths and more than 8 million displaced persons and refugees, creating a dire humanitarian situation, according to the United Nations.
