section_path: Sudanese civil war
section_name: Sudanese civil war
paragraph_text: Sudanese civil war
  
  During the opening stages of the Sudanese civil war (2023–present), the base became a hub of evacuation efforts for foreign citizens, which led to the facility being used for landing and takeoff by foreign militaries as well as a gathering point for foreign evacuees and their dependents.
  
  From the night of April 22-23, 2023, an airlift was set up by the French army during Operation Sagittaire. A C-130 Hercules arriving from Djibouti landed with night vision binoculars in the air base; the French commandos on board secured the base after negotiations with the Sudanese military. Three A400M Atlas also followed from Djibouti and evacuated French and foreign nationals.
  
  As part of the evacuation of British nationals from Sudan, elements of the British Armed Forces arrived at the airfield, with agreement of the Sudanese government, to conduct an airlift evacuation using RAF Boeing C-17 Globemaster III, Lockheed C-130 Hercules and Airbus A400M Atlas aircraft. The Spanish, Dutch and German air forces also deployed transport planes for their nationals. However, senior German officials accused the British of causing delays in rescue efforts, telling the BBC that British forces landed without the Sudanese Armed Forces 's permission at the airbase, which angered the SAF that they refused access to the facility. According to one source, the British had to pay the SAF to allow them access, which resulted in at least half a day's delay for German rescuers. The UK Ministry of Defence denied these reports, calling them "complete nonsense".
  
  On 21 May 2023, residents in Khartoum said heavy fighting occurred as the Rapid Support Forces tried to advance towards the airbase. RSF fighters in about 20 trucks positioned east of the Nile were trying to cross a bridge to reach the airfield, but were met by heavy artillery from the SAF.