Follow the latest news from the Sudan crisis here
In the early hours of Sunday, a company of British paratroopers and another of Royal Marines prepared their weapons to immediately “go kinetic” in Sudan.
A backroom deal had been negotiated with the Rapid Support Forces and the Sudanese Armed Forces to allow the safe passage of a road convoy carrying diplomats and their families from Khartoum to an airstrip.
But if the escorting special forces team came into contact with the enemy, the paratroopers and marines would have been ordered to strike.
“Steamrolling through the checkpoints wasn't assured, so there was a company paras and marines on each of the three extraction points ready to go kinetic should the checkpoints not adhere,” a defence source involved in the planning told The National.
“The checkpoints were unlikely to be anti-British, but given the criminality from an ill-disciplined militia, we could not be sure.”
The daring operation involved the evacuation of 24 diplomats and their families, duplicating a similar effort by US Navy Seals and other nations rapidly extracting their staff.
But following the high-stakes operations, thousands of British, American and other foreign citizens have been left behind and, now without embassy protection, have to fend for themselves.
Their future looks increasingly insecure.
Analysts from the London-based Sibylline intelligence firm have warned that the situation in Khartoum is likely to deteriorate, with inmates freed from Kobar prison joining the fight and the RSF receiving anti-aircraft missiles.
Added to the mix is the presence of Russian Wagner Group mercenaries, who have provided weapons and training to both sides and remain an unknown quantity in the conflict.
Western intervention
There are 16,000 US passport holders, many with dual citizenship, up to 4,000 Britons and thousands more westerners now stuck in Sudan, ordered by their countries to shelter in place for now.
Their lives will be in increasingly in jeopardy if the fighting intensifies, with governments under pressure to respond.
The idea to create a powerful international intervention force has been suggested by Tobias Ellwood, MP, chairman of the Commons defence committee.
“When you add up the force capabilities mobilised to get embassy personnel out, the UK, US, France, Germany, Italy, Spain and Sweden, that's over 10,000 special forces,” he told The National.
“We're going to need to get all these people out to Sudan as swiftly as possible and we will need to be proactive. There could be a ceasefire but ultimately the collective strength of the West needs to be utilised.”
But with the US appearing to distance itself from committing to an evacuation, there will be little motivation for other less powerful nations to attempt a military intervention.
Port Sudan
Instead, the most viable and least dangerous route is the 800km road journey from the capital to the relative security of Port Sudan, on the Red Sea.
American warships are already stationed off the coast and in a few days, they will be joined by two British Royal Navy vessels, with one steaming to the Red Sea from Bahrain and the other from India.
Saudi Arabia has already used its warships to evacuate diplomats from 13 countries out of Port Sudan.
“If foreign nationals can get to the coast and go to Saudi Arabia, then that’s also doable,” said Thomas Barry, a military contractor who has worked in South Sudan.
“Would I go via any other route, including north to Egypt? No chance. Heading to the coast is the only option but unless you are able to get a safe passage guarantee, then I wouldn't advise it as it is very high risk.”
He echoed the British government line that, for now, it was better to stay indoors and wait for the most intense fighting to pass.
Ben Manzin, an analyst at Sibylline, said it had become apparent that Gulf states had been “creating channels for getting people out” from Khartoum to Port Sudan then across the Red Sea to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Kabul again?
“It's going to be a question of either staying put until the violence comes down, or trying to get out on an individual basis,” said Col Richard Kemp, who commanded British forces in Afghanistan in 2005.
“Whatever they do is going to be fraught with danger because staying put in what's effectively a war zone with heavy shelling, gunfire, air strikes, looting and rape could soon be very difficult.”
In the 2021 Kabul evacuation following the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan, it was easier to get people out because there was agreement on both sides.
That will be trickier in Sudan, Col Kemp argued.
“Without a ceasefire or safe passage, it’s very hard to see how those people can be got out by a military rescue operation,” he said.
“There's every possibility the troops dealing with it could be attacked and that could potentially draw our forces into a gun battle with locals on the ground, which would have pretty disastrous consequences.”
Sending in flights of military transport aircraft also comes with high risk, warned Mr Manzin.
“The RSF have some limited anti-aircraft power, with ZSU-30 twin cannons mounted on the back of a technical but also the suggestion that elements in Libya intend to supply them with Manpad [man-portable] surface-to-air missiles. So the air threat is there.”
But he added that for now, there was no suggestion that the RSF or SAF would want to deliberately attack westerners.
Wagner actions
Another unknown and unpredictable element is the Russian involvement in the conflict. While Moscow wants a stable Sudan to develop a naval facility on the Red Sea, the notorious Wagner Group of mercenaries has been heavily involved.
“Wagner has aligned itself with both the two factions with a foot in both camps,” said Col Kemp.
“At the moment, it’s weapons training and technical support, paid for by the RSF with illicit gold mining that is smuggled out of the country.”
This cash inflow has significantly strengthened the RSF’s forces, with Sibylline suggesting that it can field 100,000 troops with access to arms that could keep it going for several months, even if they are pushed out of Khartoum by the numerically superior SAF.
Bound Two
The National understands that the British military is considering plans for a “bound two” operation, with paratroopers and marines being readied for a more robust return to Sudan using Cyprus as a staging post.
On Monday afternoon, Britain’s Cobra emergency planning committee met to consider its next steps.
Certainly, the fast-paced and intense military contingency planning will be under way, with kit and personnel readied for a hostile intervention.
But the politicians and diplomats will also use their muscle in the hope that a lull in fighting will give them time to save those citizens who want to get out and perhaps bring the factions to a peaceful agreement.
How to wear a kandura
Dos
- Wear the right fabric for the right season and occasion
- Always ask for the dress code if you don’t know
- Wear a white kandura, white ghutra / shemagh (headwear) and black shoes for work
- Wear 100 per cent cotton under the kandura as most fabrics are polyester
Don’ts
- Wear hamdania for work, always wear a ghutra and agal
- Buy a kandura only based on how it feels; ask questions about the fabric and understand what you are buying
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
ESSENTIALS
The flights
Emirates flies from Dubai to Phnom Penh via Yangon from Dh2,700 return including taxes. Cambodia Bayon Airlines and Cambodia Angkor Air offer return flights from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap from Dh250 return including taxes. The flight takes about 45 minutes.
The hotels
Rooms at the Raffles Le Royal in Phnom Penh cost from $225 (Dh826) per night including taxes. Rooms at the Grand Hotel d'Angkor cost from $261 (Dh960) per night including taxes.
The tours
A cyclo architecture tour of Phnom Penh costs from $20 (Dh75) per person for about three hours, with Khmer Architecture Tours. Tailor-made tours of all of Cambodia, or sites like Angkor alone, can be arranged by About Asia Travel. Emirates Holidays also offers packages.
RESULT
Uruguay 3 Russia 0
Uruguay: Suárez (10'), Cheryshev (23' og), Cavani (90')
Russia: Smolnikov (Red card: 36')
Man of the match: Diego Godin (Uruguay)
The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
WORLD CUP SEMI-FINALS
England v New Zealand
(Saturday, 12pm UAE)
Wales v South Africa
(Sunday, 12pm, UAE)
Tearful appearance
Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday.
Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow.
She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.
A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.
Read more from Aya Iskandarani
OTHER IPL BOWLING RECORDS
Best bowling figures: 6-14 – Sohail Tanvir (for Rajasthan Royals against Chennai Super Kings in 2008)
Best average: 16.36 – Andrew Tye
Best economy rate: 6.53 – Sunil Narine
Best strike-rate: 12.83 – Andrew Tye
Best strike-rate in an innings: 1.50 – Suresh Raina (for Chennai Super Kings against Rajasthan Royals in 2011)
Most runs conceded in an innings: 70 – Basil Thampi (for Sunrisers Hyderabad against Royal Challengers Bangalore in 2018)
Most hat-tricks: 3 – Amit Mishra
Most dot-balls: 1,128 – Harbhajan Singh
Most maiden overs bowled: 14 – Praveen Kumar
Most four-wicket hauls: 6 – Sunil Narine
The biog
Date of birth: 27 May, 1995
Place of birth: Dubai, UAE
Status: Single
School: Al Ittihad private school in Al Mamzar
University: University of Sharjah
Degree: Renewable and Sustainable Energy
Hobby: I enjoy travelling a lot, not just for fun, but I like to cross things off my bucket list and the map and do something there like a 'green project'.
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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United States
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China
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3.
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UAE
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4.
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Japan
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5
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Norway
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Canada
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Singapore
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Australia
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Saudi Arabia
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South Korea
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POWERWASH%20SIMULATOR
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Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
Available: Now
How it works
Each player begins with one of the great empires of history, from Julius Caesar's Rome to Ramses of Egypt, spread over Europe and the Middle East.
Round by round, the player expands their empire. The more land they have, the more money they can take from their coffers for each go.
As unruled land and soldiers are acquired, players must feed them. When a player comes up against land held by another army, they can choose to battle for supremacy.
A dice-based battle system is used and players can get the edge on their enemy with by deploying a renowned hero on the battlefield.
Players that lose battles and land will find their coffers dwindle and troops go hungry. The end goal? Global domination of course.
The Good Liar
Starring: Helen Mirren, Ian McKellen
Directed by: Bill Condon
Three out of five stars
Some of Darwish's last words
"They see their tomorrows slipping out of their reach. And though it seems to them that everything outside this reality is heaven, yet they do not want to go to that heaven. They stay, because they are afflicted with hope." - Mahmoud Darwish, to attendees of the Palestine Festival of Literature, 2008
His life in brief: Born in a village near Galilee, he lived in exile for most of his life and started writing poetry after high school. He was arrested several times by Israel for what were deemed to be inciteful poems. Most of his work focused on the love and yearning for his homeland, and he was regarded the Palestinian poet of resistance. Over the course of his life, he published more than 30 poetry collections and books of prose, with his work translated into more than 20 languages. Many of his poems were set to music by Arab composers, most significantly Marcel Khalife. Darwish died on August 9, 2008 after undergoing heart surgery in the United States. He was later buried in Ramallah where a shrine was erected in his honour.
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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The specs
Engine: Four electric motors, one at each wheel
Power: 579hp
Torque: 859Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh825,900
On sale: Now
Two products to make at home
Toilet cleaner
1 cup baking soda
1 cup castile soap
10-20 drops of lemon essential oil (or another oil of your choice)
Method:
1. Mix the baking soda and castile soap until you get a nice consistency.
2. Add the essential oil to the mix.
Air Freshener
100ml water
5 drops of the essential oil of your choice (note: lavender is a nice one for this)
Method:
1. Add water and oil to spray bottle to store.
2. Shake well before use.
Teachers' pay - what you need to know
Pay varies significantly depending on the school, its rating and the curriculum. Here's a rough guide as of January 2021:
- top end schools tend to pay Dh16,000-17,000 a month - plus a monthly housing allowance of up to Dh6,000. These tend to be British curriculum schools rated 'outstanding' or 'very good', followed by American schools
- average salary across curriculums and skill levels is about Dh10,000, recruiters say
- it is becoming more common for schools to provide accommodation, sometimes in an apartment block with other teachers, rather than hand teachers a cash housing allowance
- some strong performing schools have cut back on salaries since the pandemic began, sometimes offering Dh16,000 including the housing allowance, which reflects the slump in rental costs, and sheer demand for jobs
- maths and science teachers are most in demand and some schools will pay up to Dh3,000 more than other teachers in recognition of their technical skills
- at the other end of the market, teachers in some Indian schools, where fees are lower and competition among applicants is intense, can be paid as low as Dh3,000 per month
- in Indian schools, it has also become common for teachers to share residential accommodation, living in a block with colleagues
57%20Seconds
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RESULTS
Catchweight 82kg
Piotr Kuberski (POL) beat Ahmed Saeb (IRQ) by decision.
Women’s bantamweight
Corinne Laframboise (CAN) beat Cornelia Holm (SWE) by unanimous decision.
Welterweight
Omar Hussein (PAL) beat Vitalii Stoian (UKR) by unanimous decision.
Welterweight
Josh Togo (LEB) beat Ali Dyusenov (UZB) by unanimous decision.
Flyweight
Isaac Pimentel (BRA) beat Delfin Nawen (PHI) TKO round-3.
Catchweight 80kg
Seb Eubank (GBR) beat Emad Hanbali (SYR) KO round 1.
Lightweight
Mohammad Yahya (UAE) beat Ramadan Noaman (EGY) TKO round 2.
Lightweight
Alan Omer (GER) beat Reydon Romero (PHI) submission 1.
Welterweight
Juho Valamaa (FIN) beat Ahmed Labban (LEB) by unanimous decision.
Featherweight
Elias Boudegzdame (ALG) beat Austin Arnett (USA) by unanimous decision.
Super heavyweight
Maciej Sosnowski (POL) beat Ibrahim El Sawi (EGY) by submission round 1.
F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
Company%20Profile
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Defence review at a glance
• Increase defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2027 but given “turbulent times it may be necessary to go faster”
• Prioritise a shift towards working with AI and autonomous systems
• Invest in the resilience of military space systems.
• Number of active reserves should be increased by 20%
• More F-35 fighter jets required in the next decade
• New “hybrid Navy” with AUKUS submarines and autonomous vessels
Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
