HEAVY fighting has continued across Sudan ahead of fresh ceasefire talks that were set to begin today.

The negotiations between representatives of the country’s army and the Rapid Support Force (RSF) was set to resume in Jeddah today.

But civilian areas have continued to be pounded by both sides with clashes between the warring factions reported in the capital Khartoum, neighbouring Omdurman and Geneina in the Darfur region.

The conflict between the former allies from the country’s military and the RSF started nearly a month ago.

Hani Ahmed, a resident of Khartoum, said: “You could clearly hear the tanks and the RSF were patrolling the streets more than usual.” 

“We only see the army in the sky, but in terms of face-to-face contact, we only see the RSF. They’re the ones on the ground,” Mr Ahmed said.

Estimates put the number of killed at more than 700, while nearly 200,000 have fled their homes for neighbouring states. 

About 700,000 have been displaced inside the country and there are severe food and medicine shortages.

Medecins Sans Frontieres has warned that conditions for children in particular were likely to deteriorate further.

The warring factions signed a “declaration of commitment” on Thursday, after a week of talks mediated by hosts Saudi Arabia and the United States.