…Researched and contributed by Jack Sylva.
Japan is set to evacuate its citizens from Sudan amid escalating violence between the Sudanese army and paramilitaries.
The conflict has so far claimed around 200 lives since the outbreak of the power struggle turned violent on Saturday.
The fighting has seen tanks and air strikes in crowded neighbourhoods in the capital Khartoum and other cities.
Japan, which has around 60 of its nationals in Sudan, including embassy staff, is the first country to publicly announce plans to pull its citizens from the conflict-hit region.
The government is preparing the necessary measures to ensure the safety of its nationals as the situation in Sudan worsens, said Hirokazu Matsuno, Japan’s top government spokesperson.
Several other nations, including the US, have asked their citizens in Sudan to provide their names and contact details to their embassies.
The US embassy in Khartoum is collecting personal details of its citizens while urging them to stay indoors and away from windows.
Meanwhile, international calls are mounting for an immediate ceasefire between the warring forces.
G7 foreign ministers, in particular, are urging an end to the hostilities in the African country.
The current conflict in Sudan is being led by two generals who took over power in a coup in 2021: Sudan’s army chief and his deputy, who commands the powerful paramilitary Rapid Support Forces.