The Three Key Figures Behind the Sudan Evacuation Operation... Tension Rivaling the Movie 'Mogadishu'

On the 15th of this month, when clashes began between the government forces and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) rebel group in Sudan, North Africa, on the opposite side of the globe, the situation was so tense that gunfire could be heard for 15 hours a day. Nevertheless, the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Sudan, the special forces dispatched locally, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs headquarters in Seoul all operated as one body, fulfilling the 'promise' to rescue all 28 Korean nationals. The operation named 'Promise' was backed by those who faithfully carried out their duties behind the scenes.

Diplomatic staff and Korean residents in Sudan are making kimbap to use as emergency food during evacuation.
[Photo by Ministry of Foreign Affairs]

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The person who led the evacuation of Korean nationals in the extremely tense local situation was Ambassador Nam Gung-hwan, the head of mission in Sudan. He realized the gravity of the situation on the 15th, the day the clashes broke out. Having been assigned last August and staying alone in Sudan, he was on his way to a supermarket over the weekend after hearing that his family would soon arrive. Ambassador Nam recalled, "I witnessed a gunfight in the city and immediately went to the embassy." He promptly gathered the staff for an emergency inspection and did not even change clothes for several days.

Subsequently, headquarters ordered the gathering of nationals at the embassy, and a life-risking evacuation operation began. Although the embassy was located in the heart of Khartoum, the capital and a hotspot of fierce fighting, it was judged to be relatively safe as the Taegeukgi (Korean national flag) was displayed. However, gathering nationals scattered across nine areas through a battlefield-like zone with ongoing gunfire was challenging, and an even greater crisis emerged. On the first day of the evacuation operation, a local administrative staff member collapsed due to extreme tension.

Since diplomats had to be on board to pass through rebel checkpoints, Ambassador Nam did not hesitate to board the last remaining armored vehicle. He explained, "There were 5 to 6 checkpoints verifying passage within about 10 km," adding, "A trip that normally takes 30 minutes took two to three times longer." Within two days, all nationals had gathered at the embassy, and on the 23rd, they departed for Port Sudan. Although there was a route that could be covered in 12 and a half hours, they chose a detour of 1,174 km to avoid clashes between armed groups.

During the 33-hour long journey to Port Sudan Airport, where an air force transport plane was waiting, emergency rations consisted of 'gimbap' (Korean rice rolls). Embassy staff and nationals gathered the remaining food without hesitation and wrapped gimbap, comforting each other amid anxiety. Ambassador Nam said, "I approached the evacuation and transfer to the home country with a thorough sense of responsibility, and thanks to the nationals' active cooperation, we were able to return safely," adding, "I deeply appreciate the support of the citizens and the swift and bold assistance of the government."

Pilot Jo Ju-young (Air Force Lieutenant Colonel) warmly welcomes the overseas Koreans boarding the Air Force multi-purpose aerial refueling transport aircraft KC-330 'Cygnus,' which was urgently dispatched to Jeddah Airport in Saudi Arabia to transport the overseas Koreans to Korea.
[Photo by Ministry of National Defense]

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The Air Force C-130J transport plane carrying the nationals from Port Sudan immediately crossed the sea and headed to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. At Jeddah Airport, the Air Force multipurpose aerial refueling transport aircraft KC-330 'Cygnus' was waiting to transfer the nationals to Korea. Jo Ju-young, Lieutenant Colonel and commander of the 261st Squadron, 5th Air Mobility Wing, who was both pilot and controller of Cygnus, recalled the moment he first met the nationals, saying, "I asked each person if they were okay and promised myself that I would safely bring them back."

Cygnus, piloted by Lt. Col. Jo, took off from Gimhae Airport on the 22nd, a day before the nationals arrived in Jeddah. Military aircraft, unlike civilian planes, require prior approval to pass through other countries' airspace, but due to the urgency, they departed without completing this procedure. Lt. Col. Jo explained, "We took a route through Southeast Asia including Japan, Taiwan, and the Philippines, and only had approval from 8 out of 10 countries," adding, "Normally, we complete all approvals before departure, but this time we set out with only 'confidence'."

Approval to pass through the airspace of 10 countries, which usually takes nearly two weeks, was resolved in just one day thanks to cooperation from diplomatic and intelligence authorities, and Lt. Col. Jo was able to arrive at Jeddah Airport ahead of the nationals. He credited the success of the operation to 'teamwork,' emphasizing that close cooperation among the military, various government departments, and allied and friendly countries made it possible. This was the first overseas rescue operation involving special forces from land, sea, and air, but thanks to prior joint training and exchanges, inter-unit collaboration proceeded smoothly.

Lt. Col. Jo recalled a memorable moment involving the youngest evacuee, a six-year-old girl who boarded the transport plane. The girl was the daughter of Counselor Kim Eun-hye, and the eldest evacuee was Kim's mother. He said, "I heard the girl came to Sudan to see her mother and that the armed conflict broke out just a week later," adding, "Thinking about how anxious the child must have been amid gunfire and the smell of gunpowder made me even more determined to take good care of our nationals."

Sudanese expatriates who withdrew through Operation Promise are arriving at Seoul Airport in Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi Province on the 25th. / Photo by Joint Press Corps [Image source=Yonhap News]

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While the local situation was rapidly evolving, the government also moved swiftly. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs' efforts to gather all necessary information for the evacuation and to secure cooperation from friendly countries to assist Korean nationals locally were the 'key' to the operation's success. Kim Eun-jung, Director of the Africa and Middle East Bureau at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs headquarters in Seoul, who directed the evacuation operation, reflected, "In difficult times, you can see who truly helps you." She likened the cooperation among friendly countries that shone amid the intense diplomatic battle to the saying, "A friend in need is a friend indeed."

The core was 'information.' Kim explained, "Information gathering was limited locally, so the headquarters had to make various judgments about the timing and route of the evacuation," adding, "If the body is a metaphor, we were responsible for the brain's decision-making." The diplomatic authorities contacted as many friendly countries as possible to open evacuation routes, and the help of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), which maintained friendly relations with local forces, was especially effective. The UAE voluntarily provided large buses to transport the nationals and took on security duties.

The nationals gathered at the embassy headed to the UAE ambassador's residence before leaving Sudan and safely exited Sudan under the protection of UAE vehicles. It is reported that the United States provided route information to avoid attacks through various reconnaissance assets during the bus transfer. Kim emphasized, "The UAE is a 'special strategic partner' with whom we share a very close relationship," adding, "This is the result of the strong friendship built through joint nuclear power plant construction, medical cooperation, and a $30 billion investment attraction during the presidential state visit in January this year."

Kim recalled, "The headquarters was filled with tension as if on the ground, and seeing the staff return safely was touching and brought tears to my eyes," adding, "I especially remember the moment when we all hugged and cheered upon hearing the report that the nationals had safely arrived at Port Sudan, where our military was on standby." She continued, "Thanks to various diplomatic efforts and the 'one team' movement of related ministries and the presidential office," adding, "I once again felt how friendships with friendly countries shine in times of crisis."

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"Your people are our people."

The brief message sent by Khaldoon, head of the Abu Dhabi Executive Office of the UAE, to Foreign Minister Park Jin exemplifies the government's diplomatic efforts in the Promise operation. According to a senior government official, Minister Park maintains close personal contact with UAE officials. The organic movement of working-level staff combined with high-level communication led to swift decision-making. Minister Park reportedly chaired meetings late into the night and frequently monitored the situation.

The government activated a 24-hour emergency system immediately after the outbreak of clashes, and as the situation worsened with incidents such as the shooting of a U.S. diplomat's vehicle locally, a task force (TF) was formed centered on the National Security Office, involving related ministries. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of National Defense, all military branches, and the National Intelligence Service responded as one. President Yoon Suk-yeol monitored the situation until just before the nationals' evacuation, even chairing video conferences aboard Air Force One en route to the United States. A government official recalled the 1991 'Mogadishu Rescue Operation,' which was also made into a movie, saying, "It was more difficult, but we did better."

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