Photo/Illutration Smoke is seen rising from buildings during clashes between the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces and the Sudanese army in the northern part of Khartoum, Sudan, on April 22. (Reuters)

The central government will dispatch Air Self-Defense Force aircraft that are now on standby in Djibouti to Sudan to evacuate Japanese nationals from the conflict-ridden country as soon as they are ready.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno at a news conference on April 24 announced the latest development but declined to reveal the details on “how” to evacuate the approximately 60 people, citing security concerns.

Matsuno said he had not received any information that the conflict, which erupted between the Sudanese army and a paramilitary group, has had a detrimental effect on the Japanese nationals’ lives and health.

Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, Matsuno, Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi and Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada met to discuss the Sudan situation.

“Related ministries and agencies will continue to closely work with each other, and Japan will coordinate closely with related countries and expend all possible means to secure the safety of Japanese nationals and evacuate them,” Matsuno said.

Matsuno added that a three-day ceasefire deadline has already passed and that hostilities never ceased during that time in the nation's capital of Khartoum.

“Along with our allies such as Group of Seven nations, Japan will cooperate with related countries in the region and urge all interested parties to immediately cease their violent activities,” Matsuno said.

The central government on April 21 and 22 flew three ASDF aircraft--C-130 and C-2 transport aircraft and a KC-767 refueling and transport aircraft--into the eastern African nation.

They arrived in Djibouti in the early hours of April 23 Japan time.

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