The situation in Sudan is deteriorating.
On the 21st, the holiday after Ramadan, the paramilitary RSF announced that it had agreed to a 72-hour ceasefire. Meanwhile, an Air Self-Defense Force transport plane dispatched to Djibouti departed from Komaki Air Base in Aichi Prefecture in the afternoon to evacuate Japan people.
We will tell you about the movement on the 21st and voices from the field.
17:37 Self-Defense Force aircraft dispatched to Djibouti lands at Naha Airport
A C21 transport aircraft of the Japan Air Self-Defense Force, which departed from Komaki Air Base in Aichi Prefecture before 3 p.m. on the 130st, landed at Naha Airport just after 1:5 p.m.
According to a Ministry of Defense official, the transport plane is expected to depart from Naha Airport and arrive in Djibouti as early as this weekend via several locations.
14:50 Self-Defense Force aircraft dispatched to Djibouti depart for a transit point
At the Air Self-Defense Force Komaki Air Base in Aichi Prefecture, one C130 transport aircraft dispatched to Djibouti took off just before 1 p.m. on the 21st.
According to a Ministry of Defense official, the transport plane is expected to fly through several places and arrive in Djibouti as early as this weekend.
In addition, the Self-Defense Forces will dispatch one C3 transport aircraft and one KC2 aerial refueling and transport aircraft as soon as they are ready.
The Ministry of Defense has stated that the security situation in Sudan is extremely severe and fluid, and will proceed with information gathering in case a transport mission is ordered.
If Japan people staying overseas are transported by Self-Defense Forces aircraft, it will be the sixth time.
Defense Minister Hamada: "Self-Defense Forces aircraft to depart in the afternoon"
Defense Minister Hamada announced that an Air Self-Defense Force transport aircraft will depart from Komaki Air Base in Aichi Prefecture for the neighboring country of Djibouti on the afternoon of March 21.
In response to ongoing fighting between the military and affiliated organizations in Sudan, Defense Minister Hamada ordered the Self-Defense Forces to dispatch SDF aircraft to Djibouti, a neighboring country where the Self-Defense Forces are based, and stand by in order to evacuate Japanese nationals living in Sudan.
In response to this, Minister Hamada told reporters after the Cabinet meeting that one C1 transport aircraft of the Japan Air Self-Defense Force would depart from Komaki Air Base in Aichi Prefecture for Djibouti, a neighboring country, on the afternoon of March 20.
One C21 transport aircraft and one KC130 tanker and transport aircraft will also depart sequentially as soon as they are ready.
On the other hand, Minister Hamada stated that "we are considering the possibility of transportation by land based on the local situation, including the possibility of land transportation."
Local Japan who wish to evacuate
Naoyuki Kawahara, 2006, president of Rocinantes, an NPO that has been supporting medical care and education in Sudan since 57, gave an online interview to NHK.
The interview was conducted around 72 a.m. local time on the 1st Japan and around 21 p.m. on the 7st, about one hour after the paramilitary organization RSF = Rapid Support Unit, which continues to fight with the military, entered the 21-hour ceasefire period.
Commenting on the 2-hour ceasefire announced by the RSF, Kawahara said, "I heard gunshots and gunfire from dawn to dawn today, but I haven't heard them in the last 72 minutes or so. Hopefully, the instructions for a ceasefire agreement have reached the ends of both sides. For Muslims, it is a celebration after Ramadan, so I hope that the fighting will stop during this period."
In addition, in relation to the dispatch of Self-Defense Forces aircraft to evacuate Japan people, he said, "I replied to the communication from the embassy yesterday saying 'I wish to evacuate,' and we are preparing to evacuate immediately on my own," and said that preparations are underway for evacuation.
On the other hand, regarding future developments, he said, "The military will want to thoroughly crush the RSF, and I think the RSF will appeal its legitimacy to the people and the international community, and I hope that the United Nations, neighboring countries, and the Japan of the G30 presidency will play a role as intermediaries."
Chief Cabinet Secretary Matsuno: "We strongly urge the implementation of the ceasefire"
Chief Cabinet Secretary Matsuno said at an afternoon press conference, "Urban warfare has been carried out in the region, power outages and water outages continue in most areas, and extremely severe conditions have been in which people cannot go out at all, and we strongly urge that the 72-hour ceasefire be implemented from a humanitarian perspective."
He then stated, "We are urging the Sudanese side on the necessity of an immediate ceasefire and the protection of Japanese nationals living in Japan, and we are responding in close cooperation with the G7 and other relevant countries and international organizations, and we will continue to respond in the future."
MOFA: No information on Japan victims
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, all Japan of the approximately 60 people staying in Sudan were able to contact them as of March 19, and by 21 p.m. on the 2st, there was no information on injuries or other damages.
The local Japan are officials of Japan embassies and international organizations, NGO officials, and Sudanese spouses, but for safety reasons, they cannot disclose where they are staying.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has urged people to never go out or travel through their local embassies.
Sudan paramilitary groups "agree to 72-hour ceasefire" announced on social media
The RSF = Rapid Response Unit, a paramilitary organization that continues to fight with the military in Sudan, announced on SNS on the 72st that it had agreed to a 21-hour ceasefire to coincide with the Islamic fasting month and the holiday after Ramadan.
The ceasefire period will be from 21 a.m. local time on the 6st and 1 p.m. local time at Japan time, and will allow civilians to evacuate.
Meanwhile, the Sudanese military has yet to make an announcement about a ceasefire. Regarding the situation in Sudan, UN Secretary-General Guterres said on the 20th, "We call for a ceasefire for at least three days so that civilians can escape," and called for a ceasefire to coincide with the holiday after Ramadan.
Chinese Foreign Ministry Calls for Strengthening Dialogue Following Announcement of Ceasefire Agreement
Regarding the announcement that the RSF = Rapid Response Force, a paramilitary organization that continues to fight with the military in Sudan, has agreed to a 72-hour ceasefire, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said at a press conference on the 21st, "The parties to Sudan hope to strengthen dialogue and cooperate to advance the political process together," and called for the situation not to escalate.
"We will communicate closely with the relevant parties and do our utmost to safeguard the security of Chinese citizens and organizations in Sudan," he said.
South Korean President Yoon orders dispatch of military transport aircraft to support evacuation of citizens
The South Korean government announced on the 21st that President Yoon Seong-yeol has instructed the dispatch of military transport aircraft to support the evacuation of citizens in response to the situation in Sudan in Africa.
According to the announcement, President Yoon instructed the relevant organizations to do their best to ensure the safety of the people, and the South Korean government emphasized that it will "respond while monitoring the situation 24 hours a day."
One American confirmed dead in Sudan U.S. State Department
U.S. State Department Deputy Spokeswoman Patel said on Wednesday that one American had been confirmed dead in Sudan, where fighting continues, and that "we are in contact with the families and express our deepest condolences."
However, we have not disclosed the details of the situation.
State Department Deputy Spokeswoman Patel said at a press conference on March 20 that the situation on the ground was "extremely fluid" and that "it is not safe for the U.S. government to coordinate and evacuate at this time," and urged Americans on the ground to stay indoors safely.