Japanese Self-Defense Force personnel sent to the African nation of Djibouti are believed to be proceeding with their plan to evacuate Japanese nationals from nearby Sudan on SDF aircraft.

The SDF dispatched three transport planes to Djibouti on the evacuation mission after fighting erupted in Sudan between the military and a paramilitary group earlier this month. About 60 Japanese citizens are staying in Sudan.

The planes arrived in Djibouti on Saturday. They are a C-130, a C-2 and a KC-767, which can also serve as an aerial refueling tanker.

Later in the day, NHK confirmed some aircraft, including the C-2, are at Djibouti's international airport where SDF members have been stationed for anti-piracy operations.

But no aircraft or activity have been visible from the outside after sunset.