The U.S. and Saudi governments confirmed direct talks between the warring Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) would start in Jiddah on Saturday, even as fighting showed little signs of abating in the Sudanese capital.
A joint U.S.-Saudi statement welcomed the "start of pre-negotiation talks" and urged sustained global support to quell fighting.
"The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United States urge both parties to take in consideration the interests of the Sudanese nation and its people and actively engage in the talks toward a ceasefire and end to the conflict," the statement said.