At least 185 people have been killed and 1,800 civilians and militants injured over the past three days in clashes between the forces of two rival generals vying for power in SudanVolker Perthes, head of the UN mission in the country, said tonight.

“The situation is very fluid. It’s hard to gauge where the balance is heading,” Perthes said, speaking to reporters in New York via teleconference. He previously spoke behind closed doors at the Security Council.

“The two belligerents do not give the impression that they want a peaceful mediation at this time,” the head of UNITAMS added, stressing that humanitarian aid missions in Sudan cannot continue under the current circumstances.

A little earlier, the White House called for an immediate ceasefire in Sudan, specifying that US officials are in contact with the country’s military leadership.

“We deplore the escalation of violence in Khartoum and elsewhere in Sudan. We call for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces,” a spokesman for the White House National Security Council said.

The ruling council describes a “rebellious” rival faction.

Sudan’s army commander today branded the paramilitaries fighting the army as a rebel group in a deadly power struggle that thwarted the transition to civilian rule.

Television footage from the international airport within city limits showed raging fire and black smoke. Satellite photographs show damaged aircraft.

Worst conflicts in 20 years

Clashes in Khartoum and neighboring twin cities of Omdurman and Bahri since yesterday, Saturday, are the worst in decades and threaten to split Sudan into two military factions that have shared power during a difficult political transition.

Army commander General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan leads a ruling council set up in the aftermath of a 2021 coup and the 2019 overthrow of veteran leader Omar Bashir amid massive protests. His deputy is General of the Operational Support Force (RSF) Mohamed Hamdan Daglo or Hameti.

In accordance with the internationally supported transition plan, the DTY was soon to be merged with the armed forces. Today, Burhan ordered the disbandment of the organization as accusations were exchanged between the two sides.

In an interview with Sky News, Burhan said he was safe at the President’s boarding house on the grounds of the Defense Ministry. He announced that his goal is to defeat DTY, but did not rule out some kind of negotiations.

“Any war ends at the negotiating table, even if the enemy is defeated,” Burkhan said.

DTY leader Khameti called the head of the army “a radical Islamist who fires on civilians from the air.”

Continued violence could destabilize the fragile region and lead to competition for influence there between Russia and the United States, as well as between regional powers that have allied themselves with various players in Sudan.