Leaders of the two warring factions in Sudan Tuesday agreed to a 24-hour ceasefire after US Secretary of State Antony Blinken called both sides. Blinken called after Sudanese forces fired at a US diplomatic convoy. Fighting erupted in Khartoum, Sudan between the Rapid Support Forces paramilitary group (RSF) and the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) on Saturday. Since then, the UN reported 185 people have been killed, fighting has expanded into other regions of Sudan and some have faced water and power cuts.

Blinken underscored the importance of the ceasefire in remarks following his call with leaders of RSF and SAF on Tuesday. He said that the ongoing fighting has endangered civilians and limited access of humanitarian workers. Blinken said:

The people of Sudan have made clear their democratic aspirations. After months of talks, they were close to restoring a civilian-led government. We remain committed to helping them achieve that goal. At the same time, we will take all appropriate measures to ensure the safety of our people.

Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Sudan on the Situation of Sudan Volker Perthes said on Monday that the UN could not reach the region to provide humanitarian aid due to the ongoing conflict. The UN plans to return to the region to discuss a “structured and long-lasting ceasefire” between RSF and SAF. UN Secretary General António Guterres also spoke to the issue on Monday, stating, “Any further escalation could be devastating for the country and the region.” Guterres urged RSF and SAF to reach a peace agreement, “end the violence, restore order, and return to the path of transition.”

The chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC) also joined growing international calls for peace in the region. The chairperson urged the parties “to immediately stop the destruction of the country, the panic of the populations and the bloodbaths of the innocents in the last ten days of the holy month of Ramadan.” They also called upon the international community “to combine, in unity and urgency, their efforts to bring the parties to immediately cease military actions and to return to the negotiating table.”

Tuesday’s 24-hour ceasefire came days after at least three World Food Programme (WFP) aid workers were killed in the conflict. The conflict escalated on Saturday in Sudan, which the UN emphasized was already in a precarious humanitarian situation. RSF seized control of the presidential palace and two international airports after tensions rose regarding a political agreement entered into by RSF and SAF to transition from military rule to a civilian government after a 2021 military coup. The political agreement was intended to pave the way toward building a democratic state based on human rights, rule of law and gender equality and realize the aspirations of Sudan’s youth, women and men.

Early Wednesday morning new media reported that the ceasefire crumbled before the end of the 24-hour agreement.