The Sudanese police have issued orders for the deportation of foreigners residing in the capital, Khartoum, due to ongoing military battles between the Sudanese Army and the Rapid Support Forces.
These orders come amidst fierce fighting between the Sudanese Army and the Rapid Support Forces, coinciding with the resumption of regional and international efforts to resolve the conflict.
The Director of Foreigners and Immigration Control in Khartoum State, Police Colonel Nizar Khalil, has given all foreigners a 15-day deadline to leave Khartoum to preserve their lives during the war period. He indicated that the decision was based on directives from the Khartoum State Security Coordination Committee.
The police justified these orders as a measure to ensure the safety of foreigners who have not left Khartoum, even though the city has been experiencing intense fighting since April 2023. However, reports have linked the departure orders to increasing anti-foreigner sentiments in Khartoum and other Sudanese cities following reports of foreign mercenaries among the Rapid Support Forces’ ranks.
A few days ago, more than 150 foreigners without valid residency papers were arrested. Sudan has been witnessing severe fighting between the army and the Rapid Support Forces since mid-April 2023 due to political and security disputes, resulting in approximately 13,900 deaths and over 8 million displaced people and refugees, according to the United Nations.
