Sudan

The warring parties stressed that the interests of the Sudanese people are a priority, agreeing to allow all civilians to leave the besieged areas, the Al Arabiya news channel reported late Thursday. The agreement affirmed Sudan's sovereignty and unity and welcomed the mediation efforts of other countries. It also called for a stop to all attacks that would harm civilians, Xinhua news agency reported, citing the Al Arabiya report.

According to witnesses, fierce clashes took place on Wednesday in Khartoum and around the Al-Halfaya bridge, which links Bahri and Omdurman, the adjacent cities of the capital. Video footage obtained by Xinhua news agency showed the army conducting intensive air bombardment against RSF military posts in the north of Bahri and deploying army convoys on the main streets.

The situation in Sudan is stable in all states except for the capital Khartoum, SAF Commander Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan told Egypt's Al Qahera News in a phone interview on Monday. "We can discuss a settlement after we reach a permanent ceasefire in Khartoum," Burhan was quoted as saying, warning that war could spread to the rest of Sudan if a division happens in Khartoum.

The resolution, made during the Council's emergency meeting in the Egyptian capital Cairo on Sunday, is meant to intensify Arab efforts to find a peaceful solution to the current conflict in Sudan between the Sudanese Army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) that erupted in mid-April, Xinhua news agency reported.

"As part of its initiative to deal with the country's current crisis, the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) offered a new proposal including extending the current truce for a week and naming a representative from each side to discuss the truce," the SAF statement said. The SAF expressed acceptance of the proposal.

"The fighting needs to stop now before more people die and this conflict explodes into an all-out war that could affect the region for years to come," Antonio Guterres said, adding, "All parties must put the interests of the Sudanese people first -- that means peace, prosperity, and a return to civilian rule."

Pauline Adhong Malok, the spokesperson for South Sudan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said at a media briefing in Juba that the ceasefire, which was negotiated by President Salva Kiir, will start on Thursday to pave the way for peace talks between warring factions,reports Xinhua news agency.