Clashes between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces continue in the capital Khartoum and other Sudanese cities, while voices are raised internally and externally for a cessation of fighting and resort to dialogue, amid warnings that the current confrontations between the army and the Rapid Support Forces will turn into a full-scale war.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the situation in the Sudanese capital was fragile, but insisted there was "still a chance to complete the transition to a civilian-led government."

Blinken warned – during remarks from the Vietnamese capital Hanoi – that "some players may try to hinder the progress made towards the civilian government in Sudan."

U.S. Ambassador to Sudan John Godfrey said escalating tensions within the military component to direct combat is extremely dangerous.

In a statement published by the US embassy in Khartoum on its Facebook and Twitter pages, he added: "I just arrived late last night in Khartoum and woke up to the very disturbing sounds of shooting and fighting."

I just arrived late last night in Khartoum and woke up to the deeply disturbing sounds of gunfire and fighting. I am currently sheltering in place with the Embassy team, as Sudanese throughout Khartoum and elsewhere are doing. (1/2)

— John Godfrey (@USAMBSudan) April 15, 2023

"I am currently sheltering in a place with the embassy team, as the Sudanese are doing around Khartoum and elsewhere," the U.S. ambassador said, urgently calling on senior military commanders to stop fighting.

Russia's TASS news agency also quoted Russian Ambassador to Khartoum Vladimir Giltofer as saying, "We are counting on the confrontations to end within a few hours, and for the two sides to move to negotiations."

The British embassy in Sudan urged its citizens to stay indoors and said it was monitoring the situation closely.

We are closely monitoring the situation in Khartoum and other parts of Sudan where there are ongoing military clashes.

We advise all British Nationals in Sudan to remain indoors and follow our travel advice for more updates: https://t.co/t5u82VNcuO

— UK in Sudan 🇬🇧 (@UKinSudan) April 15, 2023

Calls for restraint

At the Arab level, Egypt called on all Sudanese parties to exercise maximum restraint to protect the lives and capabilities of the Sudanese people and uphold the supreme interests of the homeland. A statement by the Egyptian Foreign Ministry said that Cairo is following with great concern the developments of the situation in Sudan.

The Saudi embassy in Khartoum called on Saudi citizens residing in Sudan to stay at home and communicate with the embassy if necessary.

The Embassy requests all Saudi citizens residing in Sudan to stay at home and contact the Embassy if necessary on the emergency number for Saudi citizens 00249993966666

— Embassy in Khartoum (@KSAembassySD) April 15, 2023

From inside Sudan, the civilian forces that signed a preliminary power-sharing agreement with the army and the Rapid Support Forces on Saturday called on both sides to stop fighting, and said in a statement, "We call on the leadership of the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support to stop hostilities immediately, and spare the country the evil of slipping into the abyss of total collapse."

"We appeal to the international and regional community to help urgently stop these bloody confrontations and refrain from any action that fuels the conflict and further inflames it," the civil forces said.

The Sudanese Professionals Association also called on "the revolutionary forces of the resistance committees to take the initiative to protect neighborhoods by forming community peace committees."

The Sudanese Congress Party appealed to the military parties to calm down and cease fire, open channels of dialogue and not drag the country into an all-out war.

In a statement, the party also urged citizens not to approach the sites of clashes, to stay at home and to adhere to safety and security measures, expressing its deep concern for the unity of the Sudanese territory in the event that the current battles develop into a wide war.

"We ask our local partners and the international community to intervene quickly in order to silence the sound of guns and bullets," the Congress party said.