Rival armed forces escalate violence in Sudan, threatening democracy.

Fighting between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces has escalated, resulting in at least 56 civilian deaths and the suspension of UN World Food Programme operations. The conflict has spread to other areas of the country, including Port Sudan and Darfur. The two armed groups blame each other for instigating the violence, and both have made competing claims about control of key sites. Sudan has struggled to transition to civilian rule since the overthrow of dictator Omar al-Bashir in 2019, and the weekend’s clashes cast a long shadow on the country’s hopes for democracy.