Morocco announced on Monday the start of operations to evacuate its citizens from Sudan following the deterioration of security conditions in the country.

The Moroccan Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement that “the Royal Embassy’s services in Sudan initially organized a land convoy (including Moroccan citizens) starting from Khartoum heading towards the city of Port Sudan (eastern Sudan).”

The ministry added: “More than 200 Moroccan citizens residing in Sudan or whose presence in this country coincided with this difficult internal situation benefited from the first phase.”

It mentioned that “the land convoy arrived safely this evening (Monday) in the city of Port Sudan” in preparation for their return to Morocco.

The statement pointed out that this evacuation came after “King Mohammed VI gave his instructions to secure the return of Moroccan citizens from Sudan following the recent events it witnessed.”

On Saturday, evacuation operations for nationals of several Arab and foreign countries began, amid renewed clashes between the Sudanese army and the “Rapid Support Forces” in the capital Khartoum.

Since April 15th of this year, Sudan has witnessed clashes between the army and the “Rapid Support Forces” in Khartoum and other cities, with both sides exchanging accusations of initiating attacks on each other's headquarters in addition to claims of controlling sites belonging to both parties.

The “Rapid Support Forces” were formed in 2013 to assist government forces in fighting rebel movements in the Darfur region, then undertook tasks including combating illegal immigration and maintaining security, before the army described them as “rebels” following the outbreak of clashes.