Swiss Nationals Stranded in Sudan: Uncertainty Over Evacuation Flight and Destination

Serge Bavaud, head of the crisis management center in the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA), did not want to commit himself to the question of whether the flight was certain to take place. It also remained unclear how many places will be available for Swiss nationals.

Bavaud did not provide any information about the destination of the German evacuation flight. He cited security reasons. Nor did he comment on whether members of the Swiss Army’s Reconnaissance Detachment 10 (AAD 10) were deployed in Sudan or in a country neighboring the country at war.

According to Bavaud, no Swiss were on an evacuation flight by the Italian military on Sunday. However, one is in contact with Italy on the matter and works well together, emphasized Bavaud.

The Swiss diplomat contradicted statements made the day before by Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani. He had announced on Saturday afternoon that the Italian Air Force would also fly Swiss out of the Sudanese capital Khartoum.

According to the FDFA, around thirty Swiss nationals have so far expressed an interest in an organized departure from Sudan. A total of around 100 Swiss nationals are registered with the Confederation as living in Sudan.