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Fire and smoke rises in the city of Khartoum, Sudan. Alamy Stock Photo

Govt agrees to deploy Army Ranger Wing to help Irish citizens leave Sudan

Joe Biden has called for an “immediate and unconditional ceasefire”.

LAST UPDATE | 23 Apr 2023

THE GOVERNMENT HAS cleared the way for the Army Ranger Wing (ARW) to travel to Sudan to help Irish citizens leave Sudan.

The 12 man team has been on standby, sources have said, but this morning the Cabinet agreed to dispatch the special forces soldiers to assist Department of Foreign Affairs officials on the ground.  

The ARW has previously deployed as part of the Emergency Consular Assistance Team (ECAT) to Kabul to rescue Irish citizens there. 

It is understood that four soldiers will travel by commercial flight this evening to Djibouti along with Department of Foreign Affairs staff. The remaining team will travel later, possibly in next 48 hours, via Air Corps aircraft to France and join their colleagues along with French forces. 

High level meetings have taken place this morning to discuss plans to rescue 140 Irish citizens in Sudan, sources have confirmed.

A team in the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) are working on a plan and liaising with a number of other countries to organise the operation. 

This afternoon Tánaiste Micheál Martin released a statement which outlines that the soldiers with the ECAT will travel initially to Djibouti – the mission will be led by DFA personnel in conjunction by Department of Defence civilian experts.

The ARW will provide security and secure communications for the civilian diplomats. 

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said: “The situation on the ground in Sudan remains extremely volatile and I wish the ECAT and Defence Forces team every success in this mission.”

Martin said that there has been intensive work by DFA since the outbreak of the violence. 

“Above all, our primary aim is to offer our citizens every assistance through what has been an extremely difficult and challenging time.”

A team will arrive in Djibouti today. A department spokesperson said that duration of the mission will be dependent on the progress that can be made, the security situation on the ground and decisions on extraction by partners.

Djibouti has a large military presence and played host to several Special Forces teams from across the world in recent days – much of the rescue operation is being run out of that location. 

Sources have said that some foreign nationals in Sudan have been making the perilous 12 hour trip by road to Port Sudan where they are being collected by Saudi military vessels and brought to Jedah.

“We are currently in contact with Irish citizens who have registered with our Embassy. Every effort is being made to assist them,” the spokesperson said. 

It comes as US Special Forces troops launched a rescue mission overnight to evacuate embassy staff from Sudan’s battle-torn capital as other nations sought to help their citizens flee deadly fighting between rival generals.

France also launched evacuation operations from the northeast African nation, where ongoing fighting has entered its second week.

This morning a spokesperson for the DFA said that department officials have been planning the rescue of Irish citizens. It is understood that members of the Army Ranger Wing are ready to deploy if they are called upon by the Government. 

The DFA said that Irish citizens in Sudan should follow the Embassy of Ireland in Kenya on Twitter (@IrlEmbKenya) for updated advice.

They have also issued emergency numbers +254 716 353 999, and the Department of Foreign Affairs on +353 1 408 2000.

It is understood that while diplomatic staff were rescued last night – there will be a separate operation to evacuate citizens.

The British military, comprising 1,200 personnel were also involved in a rescue mission over night. 

Ferocious battles between the Sudanese army and a paramilitary group – which has seen fighting with tanks in densely populated Khartoum and air strikes launched by fighter jets – have killed more than 400 people and left thousands wounded.

Biden, who said the US military “conducted an operation” to extract US government personnel, condemned the violence, saying “it’s unconscionable and it must stop”.

Just over 100 US special operations troops took part in the rescue to extract fewer than 100 people, which saw three Chinook helicopters fly from Djibouti, staying on the ground in Khartoum for less than an hour.

France’s foreign ministry said today a “rapid evacuation operation” had begun, and that European citizens and those from “allied partner countries” would also be assisted, without giving further details.

Yesterday, Tánaiste Micheál Martin said that the Department of Foreign Affairs was in contact with 125 Irish citizens in Sudan. 

“Deeply concerned by the ongoing situation in Sudan,” Martin said.

We are actively planning for assisted evacuation with our international partners when conditions make it possible. Currently in contact with 125 Irish citizens. Every effort being made to assist them.

Sources say contingency planning is underway for Irish citizens in the north African country.

The Emergency Consular Assistance Team (ECAT) would need to be actioned to evacuate Irish citizens. ECAT comprises the Army Ranger Wing and personnel from the Department of Foreign Affairs, but it is expected aircraft from other countries would also be needed for such an operation. 

Continued fighting

Fighting continued today with the crackle of automatic gunfire echoing across Khartoum and Sudanese military aircraft roaring overhead, witnesses said.

Frightened residents, many low on water, food and other essentials, have huddled inside their homes in the chaos-torn city where buildings have been gutted, lampposts are lying on the ground, and smoke has been rising from shops set on fire.

Heavy fighting broke out on 15 April between forces loyal to army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and his deputy turned rival Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, who commands the powerful paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

The former allies seized power in a 2021 coup but later fell out in a bitter power struggle.

Daglo’s RSF emerged from the Janjaweed fighters unleashed in Darfur by former strongman leader Omar al-Bashir, where they were accused of war crimes.

Multiple truces have been agreed and ignored.

Khartoum’s airport has been the site of heavy fighting with aircraft destroyed on the runway, and is under the control of the RSF.

US Under Secretary of State John Bass said that the RSF “cooperated to the extent that they did not fire on our service members”, warning any wider effort to evacuate thousands of other American citizens was unlikely in the coming days.

More than 150 people from various nations reached the safety of Saudi Arabia after naval forces launched a rescue across the Red Sea yesterday, collecting both Saudi citizens and nationals from 12 other countries from Port Sudan.

Other foreign countries have said they are preparing for the potential evacuation of thousands more of their nationals, with South Korea and Japan deploying forces to nearby countries, and the European Union weighing a similar move.

Three German military transport planes had to turn back Wednesday, according to German weekly Der Spiegel.

But the scramble by foreigners to escape has sparked worry among Sudanese of what will happen when diplomats who could act as potential mediators have gone.

“Pushing for safe passages to evacuate internationals without simultaneously pushing to end the war will be terrible”, said researcher Hamid Khalafallah.

“International actors will have less impact once they’re out of country,” he said, adding in a message to foreign nations:

Do all you can to leave safely, but don’t leave the Sudanese people behind unprotected.

‘Living in darkness’

In Khartoum, a city of five million, the conflict has left terrified civilians sheltering inside their homes, with power largely cut amid sweltering heat and the internet cut for most.

Many have ventured out only to get food and water, supplies of which are dwindling, or to flee the city.

“We were living in darkness… first we didn’t have water and then we didn’t have power,” Khartoum resident Awad Ahmad Sherif said.

We ask God for our safety.

While the capital has seen some of the fiercest clashes, fighting has broken out elsewhere across Sudan, Africa’s third biggest nation and roughly three times the size of France.

Battles have raged in Darfur, where Doctors Without Borders (MSF) in the city of El Fasher said their medics had been “overwhelmed” by the number of patients with gunshot wounds, many of them children.

The UN World Health Organization said more than 420 people had been killed and over 3,700 wounded in the fighting across Sudan, but the actual death toll is thought to be higher.

Some hospitals have been shelled in fighting and others looted, with more than two-thirds of hospitals in Khartoum and neighbouring states “out of service”, the doctors’ union said.

Burhan and Daglo’s dispute centred on the planned integration of the RSF into the regular army, a key condition for a deal aimed at restoring Sudan’s democratic transition after the military toppled Bashir in April 2019 following mass citizen protests.

With reporting from Press Association, AFP and Tadgh McNally. 

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    Mute John O Mahony
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    Apr 23rd 2023, 2:34 PM

    Right men for the job, the best of luck to those who maybe deployed. Safe trip to all.

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    Mute Quinny
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    Apr 23rd 2023, 2:07 PM

    The Government is on job , what could possibly go right ??

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    Mute Tom Collins
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    Apr 23rd 2023, 1:44 PM

    The Irish government are very concerned. We are looking into it. Monitoring the situation. Setting up communications. Doing the ground work. Liasing with officials on the ground. In contact with Sudanise embassy. Working with our friends in Europe and beyond.

    127
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    Mute KH
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    Apr 23rd 2023, 3:18 PM

    @Victor Kuss: bargain basement elite force! Can’t find Sudan on a map! You clearly don’t have a clue what your talking about. If they are that crap how were they the best sniper team in the world in 2018 winning the international SF sniper competition in the US beating SF teams from all over the world. They mightn’t have the biggest budget or a government that knows how to use them to their full potential but they are still a highly trained and respected SF group.

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    Mute Stephen Deegan
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    Apr 23rd 2023, 8:59 PM

    @KH: V. Kuss: Decorated airsoft veteran.

    44
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    Mute AnthonyK
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    Apr 23rd 2023, 3:50 PM

    I’d rather have the yanks than the Russains or Chinese.

    130
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    Mute Billy Heffernan
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    Apr 23rd 2023, 9:46 PM

    @AnthonyK: yes but I think the Sudanese should decide for themselves

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    Mute Y U no spell good?
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    Apr 23rd 2023, 6:03 PM

    So once again the ARW and our citizens will have to hitch a lift on another nation’s aircraft because the disinterested and short sighted government and incompetent department of defence still haven’t ponied up for a proper strategic lift aircraft

    120
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    Mute Stephen Deegan
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    Apr 23rd 2023, 9:04 PM

    @Y U no spell good?: …so we’ll leave the Irish citizens in Sudan until the new heavy-lift aircraft is delivered. Is that your suggestion?

    23
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    Mute Y U no spell good?
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    Apr 23rd 2023, 11:31 PM

    @Stephen Deegan: not my point at all Stephen. I’m highlighting the massive lack of proactivity and thought on national strategic capability

    38
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    Mute ibrahim Sudane
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    Apr 23rd 2023, 9:31 AM

    No more sudan as country , it will be civil war leads to cut sudan to 3 more small countries ,
    Emirates will control the east , Egypt and Saudi will manage the north, China and Russia will sick the west resourse,
    Its very well planned since 1989
    Goodbye sudan

    108
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    Mute Seán Ó Briain
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    Apr 23rd 2023, 10:42 PM

    @ibrahim Sudane: Because African countries were created with very little foresight by Europeans with mostly just arbitrary lines.

    21
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    Mute SquideyeMagpie
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    Apr 23rd 2023, 3:40 PM

    @Victor Kuss: you are just about 100% wrong about the ranger wing.

    84
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    Mute Kárl
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    Apr 23rd 2023, 1:46 PM

    Ok….so are we sending in our fishermen to extract Irish citizens in the Sudan?

    69
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    Mute Paul Shepherd
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    Apr 23rd 2023, 2:16 PM

    @Kárl: no…..Ryan is cycling over on his tandem to extract them one by one.

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    Mute all devices
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    Apr 23rd 2023, 4:36 PM

    Who are they hitching a lift off this time?

    55
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    Mute William slevin
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    Apr 23rd 2023, 12:03 PM

    @paul furey:”@William slevin: go comment on other Irish media websites and stop being a Karen. Their site, their rules.”

    Ah here is the sad little man back…seriously you never have anything to add to the discussion all you do is seek to deride and repress those on here with actual opinions and add to the discussion wether their right or wrong matters not the fact is your just a tow the line man with what seems not a thought of your own to offer except insults and put downs…

    Next Time you reply to one of my comments offer something address what I’ve said…refute what I’ve said or don’t say anything at all because all your doing is show your failure on here…

    Karen lol ah such failure…

    77
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    Mute Gavin Conran
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    Apr 23rd 2023, 2:04 PM

    @William slevin: In fairness, you don’t seem to have anything to add either – just here moaning as best I can tell and also not shy about throwing out insults. Have you at least tried commenting on other irish news sites? You might find quite a lot of them don’t allow comments anymore. Can’t imagine why…

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    Mute Fiona Fitzgerald
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    Apr 23rd 2023, 3:56 PM

    @William slevin: Would you ever go for a walk. Half this thread is long posts by you ranting away to yourself. At least stay on topic.

    54
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    Mute Paul Furey
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    Apr 23rd 2023, 4:10 PM

    @William slevin: their site their rules

    18
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    Mute Steven Moens
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    Apr 23rd 2023, 11:44 PM

    Why do we as Europeans even bother providing overseas aid to countries like Sudan ? If their government and opposing militias have the ability to operate fighter jets and tanks they’re definitely not short of financial resources.

    Best of luck to all troops involved in the ongoing evacuation operations.

    38
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    Mute William slevin
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    Apr 23rd 2023, 10:51 AM

    @david Terry:”@William slevin: William, How tall are you?”

    Tall enough….you looking for a match up in the ring or something? Lol

    40
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    Mute Rob Ryan
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    Apr 23rd 2023, 3:13 PM

    A bit hypocritical to say the violence must stop as Israel continually bombs the Palestinians

    65
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    Mute Tom Collins
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    Apr 23rd 2023, 8:36 AM

    Have we got our people out yet?

    29
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    Mute David Mercedes
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    Apr 23rd 2023, 4:47 PM

    Oil.

    22
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    Mute Richard Griffin
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    Apr 23rd 2023, 2:59 PM

    @Victor Kuss: what the … You make no sense. Get back in your box

    32
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    Mute William slevin
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    Apr 23rd 2023, 12:11 PM

    @rian lynch:”@Ordinary Bloke: your copy and paste game is extremely poor”

    Is that because he is not copying and pasting why his comment is an extremely poor copy and past? lol or are you just blowing it your azz as usually…

    Your another of thejournal.ie’s failures of the comment section…you add nothing to the discussion, you do not address what’s being said nor even TRY refute it…

    Honestly if you and the likes of Paul furey disappeared from thejournal.ie comments section no one would notice…or only that the level of interaction got better on here…

    Do yourself a favour stop showing everyone your constant failure in your responses…its for your own good…really it is.

    37
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    Mute Chris Swanepoel
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    Apr 23rd 2023, 2:10 PM

    I’m certain that when biden rambles everyone shakes with fear and acquiesces

    25
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    Mute Diaspora'd
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    Apr 23rd 2023, 7:54 PM

    @Chris Swanepoel: Sometimes, I think Biden’s position about Ireland and Brexit had some influence on Rishi Sunak coming up with the Windsor Framework.

    19
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    Mute William slevin
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    Apr 23rd 2023, 1:38 PM

    @david huston:”@William slevin: Were you always a brown noser?”

    Another failure at posting coming out of the woodwork…care to address or refute what I’ve said or do you just want to keep failing as a poster on thejournal.ie comment section contributing nothing….just trying to repress commenters with insults….

    Ever hear the saying if you’ve nothing worthwhile saying say nothing at all…Best for you to heed that advice, it’s for own sake…

    27
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    Mute David Corcoran
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    Apr 23rd 2023, 3:01 PM

    Only right we help every other nation

    16
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    Mute William slevin
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    Apr 23rd 2023, 3:18 PM

    @gavin conran:”@William slevin: In fairness, you don’t seem to have anything to add either – just here moaning as best I can tell and also not shy about throwing out insults. Have you at least tried commenting on other irish news sites? You might find quite a lot of them don’t allow comments anymore. Can’t imagine why…”

    I add my options to the discussion you can see it as moaning fair…your open response to me was your opinion which added to the discussion and that’s what mean about adding the discussion. you did not open up with an insult and fair play to you for that..when an ones opening response is an insult its not adding anything and thats what I mean about not adding to the discussion…

    When I’m met with insults especially the first response no I’m will not be shy with using inflammatory language that may be precieved as an insult especially when I’ve been out right insulted…

    Look at my previous comments to people when I give my opinion I never open with an insult…yes I have strong opinions such as my stance on abortion and beliefs around abortion many are offended by them but I’m not going to concede for fear of offence…alot of my responses are to those responding to my original comment…I only respond one for one response…so for my opinions have received alot of responses many abusive and not abusive…but I only make one response to each response I don’t spam…

    I would hope you would agree if the only thing one has to offer is insults that’s not adding to the discussion…and my criticism of thejournal.ie you may see that as moaning but that is your opinion I reject but respect…and your engagement with me in this response has been superior than most of the comments that seek to deride and repress me which I will not concede too…

    So thank you for your reasonable response.

    16
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    Mute William slevin
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    Apr 23rd 2023, 6:36 PM

    @paul furey :”@William slevin: their site their rules”

    Rules which are followed and thejournal.ie still deletes comments and or revoke commenting privileges…just to control the narrative that they want…if that’s the case thejournal.ie should be honest about instead of being so corruptible asking people to follow these rules and you will be fine to comment but then going against their on terms and conditions which is a contract they break over and over…

    But sure it’s fine for you your a thejournal.ie loyalist…to you the journal can do no wrong eh? It’s their website right? They can do what the want yea? Wrong thejournal.ie created a contract with its users…when they delete comments outside their rules they break the contract they created and we signed up too…

    14
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    Mute William slevin
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    Apr 23rd 2023, 6:28 PM

    @fiona Fitzgerald:”@William slevin: Would you ever go for a walk. Half this thread is long posts by you ranting away to yourself. At least stay on topic.”

    Another baseless claim…ranting to myself…really? I make generally one statement of opinion…the rest I respond to I’d say 20% to those who make their own statements or responding to others…the rest the other 80% I’m responding to people who responded to my posts…

    So much for your baseless claim trying to deride me saying I’m ranting to myself…why you must be just a figment of my imagination because surely I’m not responding to someone who made a response to me…I’m just ranting to myself right now aren’t I fiona Fitzgerald? my imaginary commenter you must be lol

    13
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    Mute Fran Scanlon
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    Apr 23rd 2023, 2:48 PM

    Hurray, they are saved.

    9
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    Mute Stephen Foster
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    Apr 23rd 2023, 8:40 PM

    They are sending in the serious lads now.

    8
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    Mute Nestor
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    Apr 23rd 2023, 10:57 PM

    :It is understood that four soldiers will travel by commercial flight this evening to Djibouti along with Department of Foreign Affairs staff.”

    Well, If you are Irish in Sudan right now, rejoice!

    7
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    Mute Geoff Bateman
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    Apr 23rd 2023, 6:28 PM

    Get Gordon Pasha in he will sort them out

    6
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    Mute Larry Smierciak
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    Apr 23rd 2023, 8:54 PM

    If they can get a lift over..

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    Mute John Costello
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    Apr 24th 2023, 11:56 AM

    Wishing the ARW and those they are going to assist, safe passage. However, why, why is it only the wing that is rolled out. The regular units in the Defence Forces are highly trained and highly regarded. However, it’s the ARW or nothing mentioned in the media when a situation like this occurs. Please treat their regular DF colleagues with more respect. They are well capable of dealing with this situation or assisting them.

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    Mute GERARD KENNELLY
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    Apr 24th 2023, 4:15 AM

    there was an illegal on liveline last week . she was complaining that living illegally in America was harder when Trump was President

    4
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