Fears of a destiny similar to neighbouring Arab countries under conflict loom over the head of 28-year-old Sundanese architect Hadeel Mohamed, who said she has not left her home since heavy fighting in the capital broke out four days ago.
The conflict between Sudan's military leader and his deputy on Sudan's ruling council broke out four days ago, derailing an internationally-backed plan for a transition to civilian democratic rule four years after the fall of Islamist autocrat Omar al-Bashir to a popular uprising and two years after a military coup.
Fighting raged again on Tuesday, hours after an internationally brokered truce was supposed to have come into effect, as forces loyal to duelling generals battled for key locations in the capital and accused each other of violating the cease-fire.
The fighting has triggered what the United Nations has described as a humanitarian catastrophe, including the near collapse of the health system. At least 185 people have been killed across the sprawling country.
Ms Mohamed said she has been stuck at home over the past four days, with her brother occasionally going out to buy much-needed food supplies.
"You can hear your brother walking outside the house and you can hear the clashing noise and you're just like you're wondering if he's going to come back," she said.
The humanitarian truce came after days of intense efforts by top diplomats on four continents and had raised hopes of sparing Africa's third largest country from civil war, but each side still appeared determined to vanquish the other.
Millions of civilians in the capital and in other cities have been hiding in their homes, caught in the crossfire as rival forces pounded residential areas with artillery and air strikes and engaged in gunbattles outside.
Ms Mohamed said on Tuesday they went out despite the danger as they were running out of supplies.
"Basically, it's a shock. No-one knew about it, so no one was prepared."
Residents said dead bodies in the streets are unreachable because of clashes, with the toll likely to be far higher than the 185 dead reported by the UN since fighting began Saturday.
The conflict between the armed forces, led by General Abdel Fattah Burhan, and a paramilitary group known as the Rapid Support Forces, led by General Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo, has once again derailed Sudan's transition to democratic rule after decades of dictatorship and civil war.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke by phone late Monday separately with both generals, seeking a 24-hour halt in fighting as a foundation for a longer truce and return to negotiations.
Egypt, which backs the Sudanese military, and Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, which have close ties to the RSF, have also been calling on all sides to stand down.
General Dagalo said in a series of tweets Tuesday that he had approved a 24-hour humanitarian truce after speaking to Mr Blinken.
Trapped residents fear looting and attacks
Terrified residents trapped in their homes for days had hoped for a halt long enough at least to get supplies or move to safer areas. The fighting erupted suddenly at the start of the last week of the Islamic holy month of fasting, Ramadan.
"The longer this war lasts, the longer we're going to have people starve and people go through situations where now they have to steal, and they have to try to really live," Ms Mohamed said.
"I'm at a point right now where I'm worrying every night that people are going to come walk into the house trying to take whatever food we have and whatever money we have. And that's been happening all around Khartoum."
Charity worker Ahmed Omer, who works for the Norwegian Refugee Council in the city of Gadarif — over 400 kilometres from his home in Khartoum — had hoped to visit his parents and extended family for the Ramadan celebrations.
The fighting has prevented him from travelling home.
"I feel completely helpless, witnessing what’s going on but cannot do anything, cannot move, and there’s no vehicle that could take me from Gadarif to Khartoum," he said.
“They sent me very painful pictures of some parts of the house which bullets hit into."
Mohammed Al Faki, one of 89 students and staffers trapped in the engineering building at Khartoum University.
He said one student was killed by a sniper. They buried his body on the campus.
"We are trying to take advantage of Ramadan to try to continue our faith and prayer. We are trying to help each other stay patient until this crisis is over," he said.
The students and staff have had to go out for supplies occasionally, risking harassment by RSF fighters battling troops nearby, Al Faki said.
"They are attacking us on the streets. They are looting. If you are walking, they will take even your phone from you in the street," the 19-year-old student said of the RSF.
UN figures have put the toll from fighting at more than 185 dead and 1,800 wounded, without providing a breakdown of civilians and combatants.
Videos posted online Tuesday showed Souq al-Bahri, a large outdoor market in northern Khartoum, in flames from nearby clashes.
Satellite images from Maxar Technologies taken Monday showed damage across Khartoum, including to security service buildings. Tanks stood guard at a bridge over the White Nile River and other locations.
The fighting is the latest chapter in Sudan's turmoil since a popular uprising four years ago helped depose long-time autocrat Omar al-Bashir.
General Burhan and General Dagalo jointly orchestrated an October 2021 coup, derailing efforts to enshrine a civilian government. Both generals have a long history of human rights abuses, and their forces have cracked down on pro-democracy activists.
Under international pressure, the warring generals recently agreed to a framework agreement with political parties and pro-democracy groups. But the signing was repeatedly delayed as tensions rose over the integration of the RSF into the armed forces and the future chain of command — tensions that exploded into violence Saturday.
ABC/wires
