Stuck in Khartoum

The American Embassy in Sudan is closed. Fierce fighting between two warring generals led to the swift deterioration of conditions in the capital and the U.S. evacuated seventy-two American embassy staff, alongside six Canadian diplomats and a few others, by military air. Some days later a convoy of 300 private American citizens was organized. What happens when an embassy is evacuated? What happens to private Americans in-country?

The decision to close an embassy rises to the Secretary of State for approval. An embassy evacuation really is a virtual chess match that some State Department critics say is as much about political signals as it is about the safety of America's diplomats. In cases where the United States supports the host government or in the case of Sudan, perhaps one day one faction, an embassy closure cuts off most interaction and will eliminate on-the-ground reporting.

In the event of a coup, an evacuation can trigger the fall of the host government based on the perceived loss of American confidence, or may encourage rebels to attack private American citizens now seen as less-protected. Having an embassy at all is symbolism, closure is without a doubt a symbolically political act. Reopening the embassy brings up all those factors in reverse.

The mechanics of closing an embassy follow an established process, with usually only the timeline varying.