This live blog has now ended. Follow The New Arab on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram for the latest news on the situation in Sudan. 

A summary of events at the end of April 19th: 

• More than 270 civilians have been killed in five days of fighting in Sudan 
• A ceasefire brokered by the UN and set to start on Tuesday fell apart 
• A new ceasefire has been agreed to by the army and paramilitary RSF on Wednesday 
• Japan is preparing to evacuate dozens of its citizens from the country
• Chad's army stopped and disarmed a Sudanese contingent of 320 soldiers who entered the West African country

Chad stops group of Sudanese soliders who entered their territory 

Chad's army stopped and disarmed a Sudanese contingent of 320 soldiers who entered the West African country on Monday, Defence Minister Daoud Yaya Brahim said on Wednesday.

"We fear that this joint confrontation between the Sudanese will spill over to Darfur," the minister said, adding that in that case maintaining security would be difficult.

Chad's government closed its border with Sudan on Saturday and called for calm amid an apparent coup attempt in Khartoum by Sudan's main paramilitary group.

Multiple diplomatic missions call for an immediate ceasefire 

Diplomatic missions in Sudan on Wednesday called on rival forces to ceasefire and observe obligations under international law to protect civilians, diplomats, and humanitarian actors following a days-long bloody power struggle across the country.

The missions included the embassies of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, the Republic of Korea, Spain, Switzerland, Sweden, the United Kingdom, the United States, and the Delegation of the European Union.

In a joint statement, they urged the army and the most powerful paramilitary group to avoid further escalation and initiate talks to resolve outstanding issues.

More than 270 civilians have been killed 

Ongoing violence between Sudan’s regular army and paramilitaries has killed at least 270 civilians in five days, according to a statement on Wednesday from embassies in Khartoum.

The reports out of Khartoum #Sudan are beyond harrowing. This is far more than violent clashes, this is the full blown collapse of a city and humanitarian disaster that is worsening at a sickening pace.

— Alan Boswell (@alanboswell) April 19, 2023

Sudan's paramilitary RSF agrees to 24-hour ceasefire 

Sudan's paramilitary Rapid Support Forces agreed on Wednesday to a 24-hour ceasefire starting at 6 p.m. (1600 GMT) following a days-long power struggle and bloody clashes with the army.

"We confirm our full commitment to a complete ceasefire, and we hope the other party will abide by the ceasefire according to the announced time," the RSF added in a statement.

It was not immediately clear whether the army would announce its own commitment to the ceasefire.

The rivals announced their commitment to a 24-hour ceasefire on Tuesday, but a Reuters reporter in Khartoum said he heard tanks firing after the ceasefire was due to begin

Sudan's RSF to move Egyptian troops from Merowe airport to Khartoum 

Sudan's paramilitary Rapid Support Forces will move Egyptian troops that were in Merowe airport when fighting broke out to Khartoum, according to a statement released by the group on Wednesday.

RSF added that Egyptian troops to be handed over to Cairo "once the situation allows it". 

The reasons behind the assault were unclear, but reports said the ambassador was not seriously hurt.https://t.co/HBU7EMJTU6

— The New Arab (@The_NewArab) April 19, 2023

Germany forced to suspend its evacuation mission from Sudan 

A mission by the German military to evacuate around 150 citizens from Sudan had to be halted on Wednesday due to fighting in the capital Khartoum, the Spiegel news magazine reported citing unnamed sources.

A spokesperson for the defence ministry declined to comment on the report. The foreign ministry did not immediately reply to an emailed request for comment.

Spiegel said the Luftwaffe air force had dispatched three A400M transport planes for the mission early on Wednesday. The planes had landed in Greece for a refuelling stop.

The Bundeswehr military aborted the mission amid reports of renewed clashes and airstrikes in Khartoum, according to the report.

Thousand flee Sudan's capital 

Thousands of residents fled Sudan's capital on Wednesday as fighting between the army and paramilitaries - which has killed around 200 people - raged for a fifth day after a 24-hour truce collapsed.

Civilians huddled in their homes were becoming increasingly desperate, with dwindling food supplies, power outages, and a lack of running water.

Their hopes of being evacuated were dashed when a 24-hour humanitarian ceasefire collapsed within minutes of its proposed start at 1600 GMT on Tuesday.

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by التلفزيون العربي Alaraby TV (@alarabytv)

Thousands of people took matters into their own hands and, according to witnesses, began leaving their homes in Khartoum, some in cars and others on foot, including women and children.

They said the streets were littered with dead bodies, the stench of which filled the air.

Sudanese residents struggling amid widespread power cuts  and water cuts 

Widespread power cuts and water cuts caused by the fighting have left Sudanese residents struggling in the final days of the holy month of Ramadan, when Muslims fast between dawn and dusk, and put most hospitals out of service.

Khartoum residents were asked to limit their electricity usage, as the state's distribution authority said the servers that manage online purchases of power had gone out of service.

The area the servers are located in was too dangerous for engineers to get to, it said in a statement.

Offices and schools have been shut in the capital since the fighting began, there have been widespread reports of looting and assault, and long queues have been forming at bakeries that are still functioning.

To read more about why the fighting in Sudan began, you can read The New Arab explainer: 

Japan plans to evacuate 60 citizens on military plane 

Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary said authorities were planning to use a plane from its military Self-Defense Forces for the evacuation of about 60 Japanese citizens currently in Sudan, in coordination with other major countries. 

Japan prepares to evacuate citizens from Sudan https://t.co/V6AbgaCsRp pic.twitter.com/KirPqulohh

— Reuters (@Reuters) April 19, 2023

Army says it will continue 'operations' 

The Sudanese army said it will continue its "operations" to secure the capital and other regions. 

This comes as a US-brokered ceasefire between the army and paramilitary forces - created with the hope of allowing residents to escape the capital for safety - falls apart. 

Continuous bombardments and loud blasts could be heard in central Khartoum in the area around the defence ministry compound and the airport, which has been fiercely contested and put out of action since fighting erupted at the weekend.