UK relocates its Sudan ambassador to Ethiopia

By Aysu Bicer

LONDON (AA) - Britain’s ambassador to Sudan has been relocated to Ethiopia, according to a statement Thursday by the UK Foreign Office.

"Giles Lever will support the UK’s diplomatic regional response to Sudan from the British Embassy in Ethiopia," it said.

Lever was not in Sudan when the latest fighting broke out in the country. Instead, he was serving in a crisis center in London created in response to the conflict.

"From Addis Ababa, he will lead the UK’s diplomatic efforts in the region to bring fighting to an end in Sudan," it said.

The latest official figures showed that a total of 897 people had been evacuated from Sudan on eight UK flights as of Thursday with more flights to come.

At least 460 people have been killed and more than 4,000 injured in clashes between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Response Forces (RSF) since April 15, according to the Sudanese Health Ministry.

A disagreement had been fomenting in recent months between the army and paramilitaries concerning military security reform.

The reform envisages full RSF participation in the military – one of the main issues in negotiations with international and regional parties for a transition to civilian, democratic rule.