The clashes have been taking place in 12 out of Sudan's 18 states. Despite a 3-day cease-fire, the two sides resumed fighting on Saturday, with the RSF claiming to have shot down a military aircraft in Omdurman, but the Sudanese army has not confirmed the claim.

The conflict stems from a disagreement between the army and paramilitaries over military security reform. The RSF wants full participation in the military, which has been a major issue in negotiations for a transition to civilian, democratic rule in Sudan.

Since the violence began on April 15, thousands of people, including foreigners, have fled Sudan. The country has been without a functioning government since October 2021, when the military dismissed Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok's transitional government and declared a state of emergency. Sudan's transitional period, which began in August 2019, was supposed to end with elections in early 2024. (ILKHA)