Sudan: Elysee confirms the injury of a soldier from the Special Forces during Operation Arc

On April 23, following the United States, France launched an evacuation of its citizens [RESEVAC] In Sudan, a country plagued by fighting between the regular army of General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and the Rapid Support Forces. [FSR]Led by his former ally, General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo [alias Hemeti].

It is difficult to plan and implement such a process because reaction times are very short and many conditions must be met. [autorisations de survol de pays voisins, accalmie dans les combats, disponibilité des moyens susceptibles d’être engagés, etc].

The French authorities did not talk much about the terms and conditions of this operation, which was carried out in Sudan. However, a few hours after its release, the Chief of Defense Staff [CEMA]General Thierry Burckhardt explained, via Twitter, that it had been christened “The Arch” and that it had mobilized A400M transport planes and special forces. At least, this is suggested by the photographs released by the General Staff. [EMA] on social networks.

However, shortly after the launch of Operation Sagittaire was announced, a French convoy was said to have come under fire in Bahri, north of Carthoum, and that one of its members had been wounded. And that, in confusing circumstances, the FSR confirmed that he was targeted by an air strike at the time of the facts. Asked by AFP, diplomatic and military sources said they reject “such rumors” as long as RESEVAC is “not finished yet”.

Forty-eight hours later, at the opening of the Council of Defense and National Security at the Elysee, President Macron confirmed that a special forces soldier had indeed been injured – seriously, a priori – during this operation.

“This morning I received reassuring news from a Special Forces commando who was injured during this operation. His condition is now stable, and his life is no longer in danger. He is moving into caregivers who will, in the next few hours, I hope, allow him to recover,” said Mr. Macron. all his colleges.

At the opening of the Defense and National Security Council on Tuesday, the President of the Republic @employee They returned to Operation Sagittar to evacuate French nationals from the Sudan. pic.twitter.com/w8yz47tSZk

– Elysee April 25, 2023

At the moment, Operation Sagittaire has evacuated 538 people, including 209 French, from Sudan. In his short statement, the Head of State thanked Djibouti and Ethiopia [qui a accepté d’ouvrir son espace aérien aux avions français].

According to EMA details, ten convoys between Khartoum and Wadi Sidna base [dont il a fallu s’assurer le contrôle] Organized in the last 72 hours. An airlift was then established towards Djibouti, with seven courses of an A400M Atlas and two of two C-130J Hercules.

#Sagittarius | last boot from #Sudan The night of 4/24 to 4/25.
More than 500 citizens of about 40 nationalities are safe from the fighting. @ground forces @Navy @air forces @employee @employee @employee @employee pic.twitter.com/NjXqjktQsf

– French Army – Military Operations (EtatMajorFR) April 25, 2023

Note that the multi-mission frigate has an improved air defense capability [FREMM-DA] Lorraine, who is currently on extended deployment for admission to the service, has also been asked to transport evacuees from Port Sudan to Saudi Arabia, in coordination with the United Nations.