African states evacuate diplomats from Iran
Ghana and Sierra Leone have evacuated diplomatic staff from Iran and taken steps to safeguard their nationals in light of the ongoing US and Israeli military strikes.
Sierra Leone’s government stated on Tuesday it had evacuated 24 of its nationals from Iran, including three embassy diplomats and six locally hired staff, and relocated them to Armenia. Sierra Leone’s Foreign Ministry noted that those evacuated also included 14 students and one private citizen.
“The safety and welfare of Sierra Leonean citizens remain a priority,” the ministry said. “The Government will continue to provide updates as necessary.”
On Monday, the Ghanaian Foreign Affairs Ministry confirmed that all diplomatic personnel had been withdrawn from its embassy in Tehran. The west African state’s foreign minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, noted on Facebook that the Ghanaian diplomats “are safe and in high spirits.”
He added that the country’s embassy in Iran was “now closed sine die.” “The safety, welfare and protection of Ghanaians remains our utmost priority in these tempestuous times,” the minister added.
Other African governments have taken measures to protect their citizens in the region. Uganda evacuated 42 students from Tehran to Türkiye.
Several African governments, including Kenya, Tanzania, South Africa, Nigeria, and Sudan, have issued urgent travel advisories and emergency measures to safeguard their citizens amid the escalating Middle East conflict.
The current conflict in the Middle East escalated on Saturday after US and Israel carried out airstrikes on Iranian military sites and killed Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei along with other senior officials. In retaliation, Iran launched large waves of missile and drone strikes targeting Israel and US military bases across the Gulf region.
The African Union (AU) has called for restraint and diplomacy, expressing concern over US and Israeli strikes in Iran and urging all parties to comply with international law, de-escalate tensions, and engage in renewed dialogue.
