Arab News Japan

TOKYO: A chartered plane for the Japanese nationals who were evacuated from Sudan to Djibouti departed for Tokyo at 6:28 p.m. on April 28 (12:28 p.m. on the same day, local time), the Foreign Ministry in Tokyo said.

Forty-eight Japanese nationals, including families, boarded the plane chartered by the Japanese government.

After arriving from Sudan on the Air Self-Defense Force’s C-2 transport aircraft and planes from other countries, the ministry said they stayed in Djibouti and received support from international organizations.

Sources in Tokyo told Arab News Japan that the plane is expected to arrive at Tokyo International Airport (Haneda) around 6 a.m. on Saturday, April 29, with Foreign Vice Minister YAMADA Kengo and several representatives of the evacuees welcoming them.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Defense announced on Friday that Foreign Minister HAYASHI Yoshimasa had asked Defense Minister HAMADA Yasukazu to end the mission of evacuating the Japanese from Sudan, where military conflict continues.

Defense Minister Hamada ordered the Self-Defense Forces units dispatched to Djibouti and neighboring countries to terminate their missions. According to the ministry, the unit will return to Japan as soon as it is ready.

Since April 20, the Japanese Self-Defense Forces have dispatched C-130 transport planes and other aircraft to neighboring Djibouti, where Japan has a base, to evacuate the Japanese and their families from Sudan.