Sudan: PM Sunak pays tribute to 'bravery' of military personnel involved in evacuation of British embassy staff

Rishi Sunak praised the Armed Forces for displaying "bravery" during the evacuation of British embassy staff and their families from Sudan.

The Prime Minister tweeted: "UK Armed Forces have completed a complex and rapid evacuation of British diplomats and their families from Sudan, amid a significant escalation in violence and threats to embassy staff.

"I pay tribute to the commitment of our diplomats and bravery of the military personnel who carried out this difficult operation."

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The evacuation operation involved more than 1,200 personnel from 16 Air Assault Brigade, the Royal Marines, and the Royal Air Force.

The Defence Secretary said in a written statement that the UK Armed Forces undertook the operation alongside the United States, France and other allies.

"They have evacuated British Embassy staff and their dependants from Khartoum due to the escalating threats against diplomats," Ben Wallace said. 

Plans for the evacuations of other British citizens from Sudan have not yet been announced.

Ministers must explain what they are doing to evacuate Britons from Sudan as fighting continues in the African country, Labour has urged.

"We are continuing to pursue every avenue to end the bloodshed in Sudan and ensure the safety of British nationals remaining in the country," Mr Sunak wrote on Twitter.

"I urge the parties to lay down their arms and implement an immediate humanitarian ceasefire to ensure civilians can leave conflict zones."

Hundreds of people have been killed since street battles erupted in Khartoum between the Sudanese army and a rival paramilitary group known as the Rapid Support Forces.

Despite agreeing to a three-day ceasefire to observe the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Fitr, the two opposing factions have failed to comply with the agreement.