The violence in Sudan has escalated since April, after months of rising tensions between the military and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces. A three-day ceasefire brokered by the US and Saudi Arabia expired on Wednesday, and fierce fighting was reported in parts of the capital, Khartoum. Residents reported clashes centred around the intelligence agency’s headquarters near the airport. A source within al-Burhan's army accused the RSF of shelling the building, while a source within the RSF said an army drone had bombed the building. Street battles were also reported around a military facility in the neighbouring city of Omdurman. The conflict has been centred largely in the capital and western Sudan’s Darfur region, where non-Arab communities have been attacked by RSF and allied militias, according to UN officials.

Up to 1,100 people have been killed in the capital of West Darfur state alone. The violence in Sudan has killed thousands of people and forced more than 2.5 million to flee their homes to safer areas in the country or neighbouring nations, according to the UN migration agency. About 25 million people – more than half of Sudan’s population – are in need of aid and protection, the United Nations said. UN chief Antonio Guterres has warned that the “scale and speed of Sudan’s descent into death and destruction is unprecedented”.

As the fighting continues, the US and Saudi Arabia have been mediating between the warring factions to bring an end to the conflict. However, with the ceasefire having now expired, it is unclear how long it will take to restore peace to Sudan. The international community must act quickly to ensure that the situation does not further deteriorate and that all sides of the conflict are held accountable for their actions.