26 Apr Operation Kaveri
Operation Kaveri
This article covers “Daily Current Affairs” and the topic details “Operation Kaveri”. The topic “Operation Kaveri” has relevance in the International Relation section for the UPSC CSE exam.
Relevance of Operation Kaveri
For Prelims:
What is Operation Kaveri?
What are the previous operations led by Indian government to evacuate Indian citizens from abroad?
For Mains:
GS 3: International relations
What is the crisis in Sudan?
What is the impact of the crisis in Sudan?
Way Forward
Why in the news?
The Indian government has taken action to evacuate its citizens from the crisis-affected areas in Sudan under the Operation Kaveri.
What is Operation Kaveri?
‘Operation Kaveri’ is likely a coordinated effort between the Indian government, its embassy in Sudan, and various other stakeholders to ensure the safe return of Indian nationals to their home country.
‘Operation Kaveri’ is an evacuation operation launched by the Indian government to bring back its citizens from Sudan, who are stranded due to the current crisis in the country.
The operation is named after the Kaveri river, which is one of the major rivers in India. The Indian government has deployed a team of officials to coordinate the operation, including officers from the Ministry of External Affairs, the Indian embassy in Sudan, and the Indian Air Force.
The evacuation operation involves transporting Indian citizens from various parts of Sudan to the capital city of Khartoum, where they are then flown back to India on special flights.
What are the previous operations led by the Indian government to evacuate Indian citizens from abroad?
Various other past operations are:
Operation Name Year Reason for Evacuation
Operation Dost 2023 Turkey-Syria earthquake
Operation Ganga 2022 Tensions between Russia and Ukraine
Vande Bharat 2020 Covid-19 pandemic
Operation Samudra Setu 2020 Covid-19 pandemic
Evacuation from Brussels 2016 Terrorist strikes
Operation Raahat 2015 Conflict in Yemen
Operation Maitri 2015 Nepal earthquake
What is the crisis in Sudan?
- Military overthrow of the government amind protests: In April 2019, Sudan experienced widespread protests that led to the overthrow of long-serving President Omar al-Bashir by military generals.
- Power-sharing agreement: This resulted in the establishment of a power-sharing body called the Sovereignty Council, which was tasked with leading Sudan to elections in 2023.
- Military Coup: In October 2021, the military overthrew the transitional government led by Abdalla Hamdok, leading to a power struggle between two military and paramilitary generals, interrupting the plan for a transition to elections.
- Preliminary deal: A preliminary deal was reached in December 2021 for a political transition, but negotiations hit a roadblock over the integration of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) with the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF). Disagreements over the timetable and security sector reforms led to tensions escalating over the control of resources and RSF integration, leading to clashes.
- Issue over the disagreement of the RSF with the Sudanese Army: There was disagreement over how the 10,000-strong RSF should be integrated into the army and which authority should oversee that process, with the RSF general, Dagalo, wanting to delay the integration for ten years while the army said it would take place in the next two years. These tensions have led to an ongoing crisis in Sudan, with humanitarian needs and the safety of the country’s citizens at risk.
What is the impact of the crisis in Sudan?
- Economic Crisis: Sudan’s economy is in dire straits, with hyperinflation and massive foreign debt contributing to the financial crisis. The billions of dollars in international support and debt relief have been frozen since the removal of the Hamdok government, exacerbating the situation.
- Obstacle to Democratic Transition: The power struggle between the Sudanese Armed Forces and RSF has made the transition to democracy in Sudan more difficult. The conflict could prolong and even escalate, potentially leading to the country’s collapse.
- Destabilization of Neighboring Countries: As Sudan shares borders with seven countries, the conflict has the potential to spill over into neighboring regions, destabilizing the area, with Chad and South Sudan being the most vulnerable. The continuation of the fighting could lead to major external intervention, and refugees have already begun to flee to Chad.
Way Forward
- The current civil-military relationship in Sudan is on the brink of collapse, and the military is facing a difficult situation.
- With a third of the country’s 43 million people estimated to need humanitarian assistance in 2022, stability and a responsive government are urgently needed to address Sudan’s numerous problems.
- Meaningful dialogue is crucial for reaching an inclusive, peaceful, and lasting solution. However, a genuine transition to democracy must also prevent the military from acting as the ultimate authority in the country.
Sources:
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-65394913
Plutus IAS current affairs eng med 26 April 2023
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