To prepare for a possible evacuation of U.S. Embassy personnel from Sudan due to the current uncertain situation and fighting between two warring factions, the Pentagon is deploying additional troops and equipment to Camp Lemmonier in Djibouti.

Biden administration officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed the deployment and the necessity of the move. Planning for a potential evacuation began after a U.S. Embassy convoy was attacked in the Sudanese capital of Khartoum on Monday.

While the Pentagon did not disclose details about the deployment or location, it issued a statement on Thursday stating that it will provide “additional capabilities” to the region to potentially facilitate an evacuation of embassy personnel if necessary, the Associated Press has reported.

According to John Kirby, a spokesperson for the National Security Council, President Joe Biden made the decision to prepare for a potential evacuation in the last few days.

Kirby stated that the president had given authorization for the military to begin pre-positioning troops and equipment and to create potential options for the situation. He provided this information to reporters at the White House.

As the fighting between the warring factions in Sudan continues, the United States has been considering the evacuation of its government employees from the country.

The employees have been relocated from their residences to a secure location in preparation for this possibility. The administration has decided that Djibouti, a small country in the Gulf of Aden between Ethiopia, Eritrea, and Somalia, will serve as the staging point for any evacuation operation.

However, given the current situation, any evacuation poses considerable difficulties and security risks, as Khartoum’s airport remains non-functional and overland routes out of the capital are long and hazardous, even without the ongoing hostilities.

Written by staff