The number of Malawians registered with the Malawi Embassy in Cairo, Egypt has risen from 100 to 144 with some having already crossed the border to Ethiopia where they are receiving assistance.

Confirming the development in an interview yesterday, Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson John Kabaghe said those who have crossed the border are meeting being assisted by staff from the Malawi Embassy in Addis Ababa.

People gather at the station to flee from Khartoum during clashes between the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces and the army in Khartoum, Sudan REUTERS/El-Tayeb Siddig

He said: “Some are taking the Ethiopia direction, some Egypt. Their needs are different as some are students while others are employed by non-governmental organisations that have also arranged to assist them.

“So far, we have registered two who have crossed the borders but there is a group of people that has crossed the borders last evening and we are hoping there are some Malawians in that group.”

However, information from a source in Ethiopia indicates that 78 Malawians are in Gondar City, about 600 kilometres from Addis Ababa.

The source said six others arrived at the border yesterday afternoon but will be attended to later as there is a curfew in that region and public transport does not operate after 8pm.

“The Malawi Embassy in Addis Ababa is paying for their accommodation and food while waiting for a decision from Capital Hill in Lilongwe on evacuation arrangements,” said the source.

The ministry has been calling on Malawians currently in that country to ensure they are registered with the Malawi Embassy in Cairo, which is accredited to Khartoum on a non-residential basis.

The UN has warned that up to 20 000 people, mostly women and children, have fled Sudan to seek safety in Chad.

 The fighting in Sudan broke out on April 15 2023 between the regular army and paramilitary wing Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

So far, more than 400 people have been killed and 3 700 others injured.

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