The evacuation operation for Canadians in Sudan was hampered by a mechanical problem on a military aircraft that has since been resolved, Defense Minister Anita Anand announced Friday.
Minister Anand did not specify what the mechanical problem was, saying her officials will explain it to reporters in the afternoon.
But she says another problem arose, an oil slick on a runway used for evacuations in Sudan.
She says about 250 Canadians have been evacuated from the East African country, which has faced an upsurge in violence in the past two weeks between the country’s military and paramilitary forces.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said he was made aware of the mechanical issue and reiterated that it had been resolved. He said Canada was also working to try to restore peace to the country.
“It’s one thing to ensure our responsibilities to Canadians, but it’s another thing to continue working to restore peace and security for everyone in Sudan,” he said. at a press conference in New York on Friday.
Minister Anand said two of Canada’s Hercules search and rescue planes have so far evacuated 117 people, including 42 Canadians, while a C-17 plane is stationed in Djibouti to help bring people from country in Canada.
Ms Anand noted that Turkey reported that one of its military evacuation planes had been fired upon, which she said illustrated the danger in the Sudanese capital, Khartoum.
“The terrain at the airport is very rough. And that requires continuous assessment by our officials with our allies,” Ms. Anand told reporters in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia.
“We must do everything we can to keep Canadians safe and secure at the airport. »
Ms. Anand added that aside from military flights, Ottawa is still exploring ways to help Canadians get out of the country.
“It’s an evolving planning process. We don’t wait to plan for the unexpected. We are undertaking this planning as we speak, due to the volatility of the situation. »
According to Turkish news site Daily Sabah, the country’s defense ministry said a C-130 was shot down with small arms. The ministry reportedly accused the Rapid Support Forces, a paramilitary group, of shooting at the plane, which the group denied.