It’s past midday local time in Sudan. That means we’ve now passed a deadline given by the UK government for British nationals to reach an airbase near Khartoum to catch the final evacuation flights out of there.
So, let’s now take the opportunity to take stock of what’s going on.
- Khartoum bombardment: The Sudanese army continues to pound its enemy, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), in the capital. Millions of civilians remain trapped there
- Shaky ceasefire: The latest hostilities are taking place under a supposed ceasefire – although a US official last night gave cause for optimism, saying attempts at a truce were creating “meaningful” opportunities for people to leave the capital Khartoum
- Peace prospects: There can be no negotiations until bombing stops, the RSF chief told the BBC yesterday
- Why this is going on: New to this story? The fighting started two weeks ago and spiralled out of a bitter tussle between two generals, itself sparked by years of political instability in Sudan. Read our explainer here