That’s the end of our coverage for today. You can read the latest report on the conflict here:
A summary of today's developments
Sudan’s army has agreed to extend the truce for 72 hours, according to a statement. Sudan’s paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) also agreed to support the new ceasefire in a statement, according to Reuters, after diplomatic efforts by neighbouring countries as well as the US, UK and the United Nations. The truce between the two warring factions was due to expire at midnight local time (11pm UK time). But the previous truce did not stop the fighting between the two sides, according to the Associated Press.
About 16,000 people have crossed the border from Sudan into Egypt including 14,000 Sudanese citizens, according to a statement from the Egyptian foreign ministry on Thursday.
AFP reports that at least 512 people have been killed and 4,193 wounded in the fighting in Sudan, according to health ministry figures, although the real death toll is likely much higher.
Britain’s ambassador in Sudan is speaking to the warring parties in the country to urge them to extend a 72-hour ceasefire that is due to expire at midnight local time tonight.
Fighting intensified in Sudan’s province of Darfur during the fragile three-day truce, killing an estimated dozens of people, residents said Thursday. Associated Press reports that the new clashes targeted civilians in the city of Genena.
Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which support the former warlord Gen Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, known as Hemedti, claims it has repelled an attack in the Kafori area. They say the attackers suffered significant losses. The incident has not been verified.
A second UK-bound charter plane carrying an estimated 250 evacuees has just left Larnaca, Helena Smith reports. “We are trying to line up charters for as soon as possible after the RAF transporters come in,” a source said. American and Australian citizens have also been among passengers on the rescue flights. More than 750 British nationals have so far reached Cyprus on rescue flights.
James Cleverly, the UK’s foreign secretary, has made a direct appeal to the heads of the warring factions as he called for the bloodshed to end. “If they aspire to be the leader of Sudan, demonstrating a willingness to protect the people of Sudan would be a very important starting point,’” said Cleverly.
The International Rescue Committee (IRC) has called on countries to shift their focus from evacuees to those who remain in Sudan, and said that an urgent frontline funding surge is needed for both Sudan and Chad.
China has deployed its navy to rescue citizens from Sudan, the defence ministry in Beijing said on Thursday.
