Sudan talks kick off in Jeddah: Representatives of the warring Sudanese factions were in Saudi Arabia yesterday for direct talks aimed at bringing an end to the three-week conflict. The “pre-negotiation talks,” sponsored by Saudi and US diplomats, brought together the Sudanese Army and paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) face-to-face for the first time since the fighting began in mid-April.

What they said: Not much of substance, so far. Check out the joint US-Saudi statement here or dive in to statements from the Sudanese Armed Forces, the RSF, and Egypt’s foreign ministry. Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry spoke with both Sudan’s de facto leader, Gen. Abdel Fattah Al Burhan, and Hemedti by phone on Thursday.

The fighting hasn’t stopped: “Our forces clashed with a group of rebel militia this evening … our forces confronted them with force,” the Sudanese army said last night. The two sides agreed to a week-long ceasefire starting Thursday though reports of airstrikes and fighting continued through the weekend.

FAST FACT- Some 42.3k people had crossed the border into Egypt between the start of the conflict and last Tuesday, according to the UN’s Refugee Agency, UNHCR. The vast majority of them — around 40k — are Sudanese, it said.

Tags: