Clashes continued today in southern Khartoum as envoys from Sudan’s warring sides were in Saudi Arabia for talks that international mediators hope will end three weeks of hostilities.

The US-Saudi initiative is the first serious such effort to end clashes between the regular army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Force (RSF) that have turned parts of the Sudanese capital, Khartoumin war zones and have derailed an internationally-backed plan to transition to civilian rule after years of unrest and insurgency.

Fighting since mid-April has killed hundreds of people, injured thousands, disrupted humanitarian aid and forced 100,000 people to flee as refugees abroad.

While the mediators are seeking a path to peace, the two sides have made it clear they will only discuss a humanitarian armistice and not negotiate an end to the war.

Confirming the involvement of his forces, RSF leader Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, known as Hamedi, said he hoped the talks would achieve the stated goal of ensuring safe passage for civilians.

Hamedi has vowed to capture or kill army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan while there are signs on the ground that both sides remain unwilling to make concessions to end the bloodshed.