Inp.polri.go.id - Labuan Bajo. During his visit to Labuan Bajo, East Nusa Tenggara on Monday (8/5/23), President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo announced that a total of 969 Indonesian citizens have been successfully evacuated from Sudan.

"The government has succeeded in evacuating Indonesian citizens from Sudan. As of today, the number of evacuated Indonesian citizens is 969," the President said.

He revealed that out of the total, 936 have already been returned to Indonesia, while the remaining 33 are in safe locations outside Sudan.

"We will continue to enhance and strengthen the protection of our citizens abroad," he added.

The figure announced by President Jokowi represents an increase from the previous report given by Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi who stated that 955 Indonesian citizens had been evacuated from Sudan.

Sudan has been experiencing unrest since April 15, 2023, when paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) clashed with security forces in power struggle. The Sudanese Ministry of Health reported that the conflict has resulted in more than 550 deaths since its onset.

(ndt/hn/um)