UPDATE 4: Five South African Successfully Evacuated from Chad to Gabon

Pretoria – South African Ambassador to Gabon, Jomo Khasu, confirmed that five South Africans evacuated by the French military from Chad on Monday evening arrived safely in Libreville early Tuesday morning.

The five South Africans were evacuated as part of an agreement between the South African government and French authorities to evacuate South Africans from Chad alongside other foreign nationals.

In this regard, four more South Africans are scheduled for evacuation later on Tuesday 5 February from Chad to Gabon. Three other South Africans still remain safely in their home in N’Djamena, the capital of Chad. They remain in contact with the South African Charge d’ Affaires in Chad, Gert Du Preez and their employers.

Meanwhile, two more South Africans have been located in the South and the East of Chad respectively and require no evacuation at this stage.

The Department of Foreign Affairs’ Consular Services will spare neither strength nor effort in locating other South Africans based in Chad with a view to providing consular assistance and possible evacuation.

South Africa joins the international community in condemning the attempted unconstitutional transfer of power in Chad and urges all parties to accept the AU mediation process as part of efforts to assist the people of Chad to address their current political challenges.

Issued by Ronnie Mamoepa at 082-990-4853
5 February 2008