South Sudan: Mass evacuation of foreigners

Foreigners airlifted from South Sudan

Several countries are evacuating their citizens from South Sudan following days of fighting that saw hundreds of people killed.

Germany, the UK, Italy, Japan, India and Uganda have already started taking their citizens out of the country.
A ceasefire between forces loyal to President Salva Kiir and Vice-President Riek Machar is holding for a second day in the capital, Juba.

Gunfire erupted shortly after Mr Machar (L) and Mr Kiir (R) met on Friday

Mr Machar and his troops have also left Juba "to avoid further confrontation".

Africa Live: More on this and other African stories
'We want peace - and ice cream'
Five obstacles to peace

The evacuations are being carried out by military and chartered planes, as commercial flights have not yet resumed. However, Kenyan Foreign Minister Amina Mohammed has said that Kenyan nationals would not be evacuated, as the ceasefire in South Sudan was holding.

The US embassy in Juba said it was organising flights to evacuate non-essential staff and all US citizens wishing to leave. Germany's foreign ministry said its air force was evacuating other European nationals, as well as its own citizens.