Sudan’s catastrophic civil war is well into its third year and the UN and aid agencies say the fighting has produced the world’s worst humanitarian crisis.

Rivalry between Gen Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, the de facto president, and Gen Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, known as Hemedti, his deputy, flared into open fighting in April 2023.

Violence has forced 14 million to flee their homes and some estimates have put the death toll at as many as 150,000. The health system has collapsed and several parts of the country have been plunged into famine.

A UN fact-finding mission has accused both sides of committing an “appalling range of harrowing human rights violations and international crimes”, including mass rape, arbitrary arrests, and torture.

The rivals have turned to regional allies for help, with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) accused of backing the RSF with supplies and mercenaries through Chad and Libya.

Sudan’s army has meanwhile reportedly been supported by Egypt, Russia and Iran.

The UAE strongly denies supporting either side and says it has been pushing for a ceasefire.

The country is part of the so-called Quad of nations, alongside the United States, Saudi Arabia and Egypt, leading efforts to find a negotiated peace.