Issued by: Department of Foreign Affairs
Following the instability in Brazzaville, Republic of Congo, the Department of Foreign Affairs is in a position to confirm that a total of fourteen South Africans have been evacuated from that city by the French military and brought to safety in Libreville, Gabon. The continued instability in Brazzaville and the scale of the evacuation has meant that at times there has been uncertainty about he exact number of South African citizens involved in the operation.
It was originally thought that the ten South Africans evacuated to Libreville on 9 June 1997 was in fact the full complement of South African nationals trapped in Brazzaville. However, the French military advised the South African Embassy in Libreville yesterday that another four South Africans, from the Jesus Alive Ministries, had been evacuated t o the Gabonese capital. Arrangements have been made for this group of four to fly back to South Africa on Sunday 15 June 1997, following the arrival in Johannesburg yesterday of eight South African businessmen.
The Department of Foreign Affairs is in daily touch with the group of South African farmers in the Niari Valley, 350km north of Brazzaville, who do not appear to be in any immediate danger. The Department is also aware of the prese in the Congolese coastal town of Pointe Noire who are far removed from the fighting in Brazzaville. Both groups are being continuously monitored by the Department and should their evacuation become necessary the appropriate steps to effect this will be taken.
The continuing instability in the Congo coupled to the fact that South Africa does not have a resident diplomatic mission in Brazzaville makes it extremely difficult to determine whether there are any additional South African national trapped in that city.
The Department of Foreign Affairs, on behalf of the Government of South Africa, takes this opportunity to express its sincere gratitude to the Government of France and its military forces for responding so positively to its appeal to bring South Africans to safety, especially since they were also responsible for almost two thousand of their own nationals.
An appeal is again made to South Africans travelling to conflict areas around the world to notify the nearest South African diplomatic mission about their travels in order that appropriate arrangements can be made should they require emergency assistance. Details of South African diplomatic representatives abroad can be obtained from the Department of Foreign Affairs in Pretoria.
ISSUED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS PRETORIA 12 June 1997