Heavy fighting between warring parties has continued in the Sudanese capital, Khartoum, and other cities ahead of the ceasefire talks today. Air strikes and artillery continue to pound Khartoum after Sudan's warring army and Rapid Support Forces paramilitary failed to agree to a ceasefire despite committing to protect civilians and allow humanitarian access. A so-called declaration of principles was signed in Saudi Arabia late on Thursday after nearly a week of talks between the two factions, which had shared power before falling out over a transition to civilian rule. The conflict has paralyzed Sudan's economy and strangled its trade, aggravating a ballooning humanitarian crisis with the United Nations saying that 200,000 people have now fled into neighbouring states. Many UN and other agencies have suspended aid to Sudan and in particular Khartoum, awaiting guarantees that their supplies and staff will be safe. The World Health Organization has said at least 600 people have been killed and more than 5,000 injured in the fighting, but that real numbers are likely much higher. To understand why the agreement in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia has not delivered a permanent ceasefire and what it will take to silence the guns in Sudan, We spoke to Sudanese ambassador to South Africa, Osama Mahjoub Hassan Dirar .
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