The European Union strongly condemned the fighting in Sudan and the continued refusal of the parties to the conflict to seek a peaceful solution, stressing that widespread attacks on civilians and the opening of new battlefronts in South Kordofan are worrying.
This coincides with the outbreak of heavy clashes between the Rapid Support Forces and the Sudanese army in several neighborhoods south of Khartoum, and the latter's announcement that marches belonging to it bombed gatherings of the Rapid Support Forces in Omdurman.
In a statement, the European Union stressed the need to undertake mediation efforts for a permanent ceasefire, to ensure the protection of the Sudanese people without delay.
He also warned that any external intervention in the conflict would prolong it, threaten the humanitarian situation and undermine regional stability.
Failed coup
For his part, Sudanese Foreign Minister Ali al-Sadiq said – in a speech to the meeting of foreign ministers of non-aligned countries in Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan – that Sudan is witnessing what he called the repercussions of a "failed coup attempt" carried out by the Rapid Support Forces after their rebellion against the existing authority in the country.
He added that this coup attempt quickly turned into a comprehensive military aggression aimed at destroying the state, as he put it.
The minister called on the Non-Aligned Movement to support Sudan during "this difficult period it is going through, and to condemn the violations of the Rapid Support Militia as crimes against the state and clear violations of international law."
In another context, the Sudanese Sovereignty Council media said that the head of the Council and army commander Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan received today a phone call from Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, during which Al-Burhan renewed the Sudanese government's rejection of Kenya's chairmanship of the Quartet on addressing the crisis, which resulted from the recent summit of the International Development Association (IGAD) hosted by Djibouti.
Bombing with marches
On the ground, intense clashes erupted around the neighborhoods of Rumaila, Hilla Al-Jadida and the industrial zone south of Khartoum, in conjunction with the flight of warplanes in the skies of the capital.
Fighting also raged in Omdurman, days after the army pushed its special forces into the city.
Al-Jazeera correspondent said that army marches shelled gatherings of the Rapid Support Forces south of Omdurman, while eyewitnesses reported that the army continues combing operations using heavy and light weapons, with the involvement of special forces to remove Rapid Support personnel from inside citizens' homes.
Sudan's military media said special task forces had carried out military operations in Omdurman and had confiscated armoured vehicles and heavy weapons after RSF fighters fled.
A Sudanese military source in the Jabal Awliya military area, south of Khartoum, said that after taking control of the Jabal Awliya storage bridge, the army members were able to seize vehicles belonging to the Rapid Support Forces, after battles between the two parties and the seizure of property belonging to citizens and drugs.
Expanding the war
In a parallel context, the correspondent of Al Jazeera Net quoted Sudanese security sources described as "high" that the Rapid Support Forces plan to expand the scope of the war to the north and east of the country during the next stage, after retreating in Khartoum.
The same sources said that the authorities have recently monitored the activity of intelligence elements of the Rapid Support Forces who infiltrated into River Nile state, adjacent to Khartoum state, and worked in farms and marginal work to collect information and prepare within the framework of the forces' plan to carry out military operations.
Authorities seized members of the Rapid Support Forces at farms and crossing points near the cities of Shendi and Atbara in River Nile state in possession of weapons and ammunition, and were monitoring military areas and strategic facilities, she said.
On Tuesday, Sudan witnessed fierce battles across Omdurman in the western part of the Sudanese capital, as the army seeks to cut off supply routes through which the Rapid Support Forces are trying to bring reinforcements into the city.
Conflict between the army and the RSF erupted on April 15, sparking daily fighting in the capital, fuelling ethnically motivated killings in the western Darfur region and threatening to drag the country into a protracted civil war.
According to the latest UN statistics, the conflict in Sudan has so far displaced some 3 million people, including about 650,<> who have crossed borders into neighbouring countries.