The Irish EU ambassador to Sudan, Aidan O'Hara, has been attacked in his home in Khartoum, the bloc's top diplomat Josep Borrell said, as fighting between rival generals gripped the nation.
"A few hours ago, the EU Ambassador in Sudan was assaulted in his own residency," Mr Borrell wrote on Twitter, without detailing any injuries to the envoy.
"Security of diplomatic premises and staff is a primary responsibility of Sudanese authorities and an obligation under international law," he added.
EU spokeswoman Nabila Massrali said that the 58-year-old Irish diplomat was "OK" following the assault.
"The security of the staff is our priority," Ms Massrali said. "The EU delegation has not been evacuated. Security measures are being assessed."
Mr O'Hara is a career diplomat who was appointed the EU’s ambassador to Sudan last year.
He was formerly the EU ambassador to Djibouti and Ireland’s ambassador to Ethiopia, which included responsibility for Sudan and the African Union.
The Taoiseach described the attack as "deeply worrying".
Leo Varadkar confirmed to the Dáil that yesterday armed men conducted a robbery at the home of Ambassador O'Hara.
"Thankfully" Mr O'Hara - who is "an outstanding diplomat" - was "not seriously hurt", he said.
Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin said the assault was "a gross violation of obligations to protect diplomats under the Vienna Convention".
"Aidan is an outstanding Irish and European diplomat who is serving the EU under the most difficult circumstances," Mr Martin said.
"We thank him for his service and call for an urgent cessation of violence in Sudan, and resumption of dialogue."
Mr Martin is to brief ministers on the situation at today's Cabinet meeting.
Speaking on his way into the meeting, Minister for Finance Michael McGrath said the Government's primary concern was for Mr O'Hara and his personal safety.
"Diplomats internationally are afforded protections, legally, and it’s important that all countries irrespective of how turbulent and difficult the situation domestically, that they do uphold the right and protections of international diplomats," Mr McGrath said.
Deeply concerned at serious incident at home of the EU Ambassador to Sudan. A gross violation of the Vienna Convention.
— Micheál Martin (@MichealMartinTD) April 17, 2023
Thoughts are with outstanding Irish diplomat serving EU in difficult circumstances, and his family. Call for urgent cessation of violence in Sudan & dialogue.
The Department of Foreign Affairs has been in contact with Ambassador O'Hara.
The department has advised all Irish citizens in Sudan to remain indoors and observe local restrictions.
Irish citizens are urgently asked to register with the Embassy of Ireland in Kenya, which is accredited to Sudan.
Fighting between the Sudanese army and a rival paramilitary faction has killed around 200 people and wounded 1,800 after three days of urban warfare.
Read more:
Almost 200 dead, 1,800 wounded in Sudan fighting
UN contacts Sudan generals as it appeals for calm
Conflict in Sudan: What we know
Irish citizen sheltering in basement
An Irish citizen living in Sudan has described the "terrifying" situation within the country as he shelters from the fighting.
Brian, who is originally from Derry and has been living in Sudan for a number of years, has not been able to leave his basement since fighting broke out.
"There have been numerous cases of stray bullets flying into people's properties, it's better to live below ground and hopefully avoid that risk," he said.
"We’re in a very unpredictable, precarious situation. No one was expecting things to kick off in the manner that they have.
"I mean it was always a threat, but there was the hope that some agreement would be reached. It’s been pretty frightening."
For Irish citizens in Sudan: Please register with the Department of Foreign Affairs' citizens register at: https://t.co/Lx4iBe5WBz and see our updated travel advice for Sudan, including contact details in case of emergencies here: https://t.co/MQrVACgrx6
— Embassy of Ireland (@IrlEmbKenya) April 15, 2023
Brian said he will register with the embassy and wait to see if the fighting dies down, or he and his family can be evacuated.
The country’s main airport is not operational at the moment as both parties in the conflict are fighting to control it.
Communications across the country are intermittent. Brian said he still has access to the internet, but due to disinformation online it is difficult to learn exactly what is happening outside.
"It's trying to sift through the information that is widely circulated on social media and various apps, and trying to sort of figure out what is really happening as things are. No one has any sort of clear idea of who's in control of what," he said.
Some electricity stations have been damaged in the fighting. Brian said many people have been disconnected from the main grid and are using generators but are running out of fuel.
He said his own food stocks are running low.
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Brian said: "At present, it’s still a bit too dangerous to even venture to a shop, and I don't know how many shops are open. Everyone is living in fear.
"It wasn't particularly well observed, but there was the announcement of a couple of hours of a ceasefire. I don't know how well it was upheld, but that allowed people to go and get some valuable supplies.
"We have a terrible situation where we have hospitals that are filling up with people, but the doctors aren't able to leave their homes to get to the hospitals to treat them. That's a dire situation."
Civilian access to running water has been affected. Brian said his supply was cut on Sunday when a main pumping station was damaged.
"We’ve managed to have enough water to see us through but it’s only a matter of time. We filled a tank and the levels are very rapidly decreasing," he said.
"We’re just trying to be as supportive as we can of each other, trying not to think about it too much, but it is desperate.
"The longer it goes on and the more desperate things become, nerves become a little more frayed, so let’s see."
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The director of International Programmes for Concern said it has 160 staff in Sudan currently and the situation is "really quite challenging" for them.
Speaking on RTÉ's Morning Ireland, Carol Morgan said Sudan has always been a difficult operating environment where Concern provides health and nutrition services, mainly to women and children.
She said Concern staff are remaining indoors with limited supplies as they have not been able to go outside since the conflict started on Saturday morning.
Ms Morgan said communication is being maintained, "but it is quite difficult. They are hearing shelling artillery fire, it's just a very difficult situation."
Ms Morgan said the situation in Sudan deteriorated from 2019 onwards, when President Omar al-Bashir was removed from power.
"The current situation is that we've 16 million people in need of assistance just to meet the basic needs in Sudan," she said.
"And out of that we have 2.5 million people have been displaced and with the ongoing conflict. And again, even though this has erupted now in Khartoum, there has been a lot of conflict out in the states in Darfur, which has made it very difficult to access the people that we work with.
"In the health sector where we work, it's really very difficult. There's only about enough health personnel to cover 17% of the population. We have a situation where one in 10 children die from diarrhoea. And again, it's very difficult to access medicines and with Covid, the war in Ukraine, super inflation, very high levels of inflation up to 423%."
Additional reporting Tony Connelly, Una Kelly
