The Iraqi Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed on Monday that an Iraqi citizen was killed in the ongoing conflict between Sudan's military rivals. The spokesperson for the Ministry, Ahmed Al-Sahaf, did not provide any further details about the deceased.

The conflict began on April 14, with the Sudanese army led by General Abdul Fatah Al-Burhan fighting against the powerful paramilitary forces of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) of Mohammad Hamdan Dagalo, also known as Hemediti. The fighting between the two forces has been ongoing, leading to concerns of escalating violence in the region.

Several evacuation operations are currently underway to remove citizens and diplomats from the country. Along with its diplomats, Iraq is planning to evacuate 14 of its citizens through Port Sudan. The US and other Middle Eastern countries are also conducting their own evacuation operations, with three American Chinook helicopters and special forces withdrawing fewer than 100 US embassy staff on Sunday.

Saudi Arabia has also conducted a civilian evacuation mission, extracting 150 people, including foreign diplomats and nationals, with 91 of them being Saudi nationals. The main airport in Khartoum, controlled by the RSF militias, is currently the site of intense fighting between the forces, while some of the evacuation operations are being carried out in Port Sudan, which is an 850-kilometer drive from the capital.

The international community has expressed concerns over the escalating violence in Sudan and has called for an end to the conflict. The United Nations and African Union have urged the warring factions to return to the negotiating table to resolve their differences peacefully.

By Kobin Ferhad