AIR STRIKES and gunfire continued to devastate Sudan’s capital Khartoum today, despite the threat of renewed United States sanctions.

Hundreds of people have died in the last three weeks after Sudan’s military supremo Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and his former deputy Mohamed Hamdan Daglo’s forces vie for control.

General Burhan leads the country’s national army, while General Daglo commands the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

Continued air strikes and clashes in parts of the capital were reported by eyewitnesses on the ground after truce efforts by external mediators broke down on Thursday morning.

The RSF has yet to respond to a new seven-day truce proposed by neighbouring South Sudan and accepted by the army.

Multiple truces have been agreed since fighting broke out, but none have lasted.

On Thursday, US President Joe Biden threatened to impose sanctions on those responsible for “threatening the peace, security, and stability of Sudan” and “undermining Sudan’s democratic transition.”

But Sudanese democracy campaigners have accused the US of complicity in derailing the country’s democratic revolution and forcing civilian representatives to treat with army leaders despite their October 2021 coup.

Previous sanctions by the US and its Western allies have led to widespread economic devastation for countries in the Middle East, Latin America and Africa, with civilians suffering food and medical supply shortages.

They have also resulted in aid access restrictions.

US Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines said on Thursday that Washington expected the conflict would continue for a long time.

She said that the fighting was “likely to be protracted as both sides believe that they can win militarily, and have few incentives to come to the negotiating table.”

“Both sides are seeking external sources of support, which, if successful, is likely to intensify the conflict and create a greater potential for spillover challenges in the region,” Ms Haines said.

The fighting has already exacerbated the country’s dire humanitarian conditions, she said, adding this was “raising the spectre of massive refugee flows and aid needs in the region.”

According to the United Nations, more than 50,000 people had crossed into Egypt alone.

It predicts that the total number of those fleeing will be at least 860,000.