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Petronas says staff, Malaysians in Sudan are safe

KUALA LUMPUR: Petronas has confirmed its employee as well other Malaysians at its office at the Petronas Sudan Complex in Khartoum, Sudan, are safe following clashes between the country's army and Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on Saturday.

The company's Group Strategic Communications Unit, in a statement, said all those in the complex are safe.

It said other employees were marked as safe in their respective homes or outside of the country.

"Petronas is closely monitoring the situation and is working closely with the relevant authorities to ensure the safety of all personnel. This remains our utmost priority," it said today.

The Foreign Ministry on Saturday said all Malaysians in Khartoum were safe and accounted for.

The Embassy of Malaysia in Khartoum reported that certain parts of the capital continue to experience unrest, the ministry said in a statement.

It said all 29 registered Malaysians in Sudan, mostly students, are accounted for and confirmed safe.

"The embassy is in close contact with them and is providing necessary assistance," it said.

The ministry also strongly advised all Malaysians who plan to travel to Sudan to defer their travel until the situation stabilises.

It was earlier reported that a number of Malaysians were in the Petronas Sudan Complex in Khartoum, which also houses the Malaysian mission, after clashes broke out between the Sudanese Armed Forces and paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

It was understood that the Malaysian embassy has instructed all Malaysians to remain in their homes until further instructions, in line with the United Nations' directive to all embassies shortly after fighting broke out.

Wisma Putra said the Embassy of Malaysia, is currently operating temporarily from the residence of the Ambassador of Malaysia to Sudan.

It can be contacted at: +249 90 075 3633, +249 18 328 6379 or e-mail: mwkhartoum@kln.gov.my.

The Wisma Putra Operation Room can also be contacted at: +603-8887 4570, +603-8887 4770 and +603-8887 4445.

Sudan has been without a functioning government since October 2021 when the military dismissed Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok's transitional government and declared a state of emergency.

Bernama reported that last December, Sudan's military and political forces signed a framework agreement to resolve the months-long crisis.

The signing of the final agreement was scheduled to take place on April 6, but was delayed. No date has been announced for the signing of the deal.

Sudan's transitional period which started in August 2019 was scheduled to end with elections in early 2024.

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