Gun Battles, Explosions Rock Khartoum As War Rages On In Sudan

Gun battles and strong explosions rocked Khartoum on Wednesday morning on the 26th day of the war for power in Sudan between soldiers and paramilitaries, without any humanitarian corridor having so far been approved by the negotiators of the two camps.

"We were awakened by explosions and heavy artillery fire," said a resident of Omdurman, a city on Khartoum's outskirts.

Overnight, witnesses in several Khartoum neighbourhoods reported hearing two massive explosions audible throughout the capital, which has a population of five million people.

Residents of El-Obeid, 350 kilometres west of the city, reported fighting and explosions as well.

On Saturday, General Abdel Fattah al-Burhane's army and General Mohamed Hamdane Daglo's feared paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) despatched negotiators to Saudi Arabia for solely " technical" " pre-discussions " on humanitarian delivery channels secured.

However, no statement has been made in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, where the discussions are taking place.

Martin Griffiths, the UN Special Representative for Humanitarian Affairs, who arrived in Jeddah on Sunday, has already left.

According to the UN, he proposed that the two parties promise to "guarantee the passage of humanitarian aid" through a declaration of principle.

Since the battle began on April 15, more than 750 people have died and 5,000 have been injured.

UN revealed that about 150,000 refugees have fled to neighbouring countries, while the number of internally displaced people in Sudan has risen to 700,000, more than doubling the 340,000 counted a week before.

Those who remain in Khartoum have barricaded themselves inside their homes.

They survive in the sweltering heat thanks to networks of cooperation among neighbours and relatives. They don't have water or electricity, and their food supplies are nearly depleted.

Generals Burhane and Daglo had already deposed people from power with their 2021 putsch. 

Under social pressure, the army agreed two years ago to depose tyrant Omar al-Bashir, who had been in power for 30 years.