The UK will cease evacuation flights from Sudan by 6pm on Saturday due to a decline in demand and the risk of renewed conflict. Despite criticism of the evacuation pace, Downing Street has not expanded eligibility beyond British passport holders and their immediate family. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office has updated guidance for those wishing to leave. The Royal Air Force has evacuated 1,573 people since Tuesday. Passports were left behind at the British embassy in Khartoum, and other countries also acknowledged similar issues. A Turkish evacuation plane was struck by gunfire, with the Sudanese army blaming the Rapid Support Forces, who denied the accusation. Evacuations may continue from Port Sudan, and the Royal Navy frigate HMS Lancaster is en route to assist.

Ahmed Haroun, a former Sudanese minister accused of genocide and rape by the International Criminal Court, was freed from Kober prison in Khartoum by the Rapid Support Forces amid a power struggle with Sudan's military. The prison break occurred as Sudan faces the threat of civil war, with fighting between the RSF and military leading to a US-brokered 72-hour ceasefire. Ousted dictator Omar al-Bashir was moved to a military hospital before the violence escalated. Sudan's interior ministry accused the RSF of releasing detainees from five prisons, while the RSF blamed authorities. Haroun stated he was willing to appear before the judiciary once it resumed, citing self-protection due to prison conditions. The conflict in Darfur, for which Bashir and others are charged, resulted in over 300,000 deaths and 2.5 million displacements.

The US is positioning military assets in Djibouti in anticipation of a potential evacuation of its embassy personnel from Sudan due to ongoing fighting between two factions. The Pentagon has announced the deployment of additional capabilities to assist with the evacuation if necessary. Sudan's military leader, General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, has dismissed negotiations with the opposing Rapid Support Forces, demanding their surrender. A ceasefire for the Eid holiday was proposed but quickly violated. The conflict has resulted in at least 330 deaths and 3,300 injuries, according to the WHO, with actual numbers possibly higher. Residents of Khartoum are facing shortages of water, food, and safety.

The US is positioning military assets in Djibouti in anticipation of a potential evacuation of its embassy personnel from Sudan amid escalating conflict. The Pentagon has announced the deployment of additional capabilities to assist with the evacuation if necessary. Sudan's military head, General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, has dismissed negotiations with the opposing Rapid Support Forces, led by General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, and insists on a military solution. The ongoing violence has resulted in at least 330 deaths and 3,300 injuries, with actual numbers possibly higher. Civilians are facing shortages of water, food, and safety, with many fleeing Khartoum for safer regions.

Wim Fransen, the European Union’s top humanitarian official in Sudan, was shot in Khartoum amid escalating violence between the army and rebels. Aidan O'Hara, head of the EU embassy, was also assaulted. The conflict involves forces loyal to General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and General Mohammed Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, known as Hemedti. A ceasefire attempt by the RSF is hoped to facilitate evacuations. The US and British embassies have advised nationals to stay indoors, while Japan and Germany are arranging evacuations. The fighting has raised fears of a humanitarian catastrophe in Sudan, which is already in a dire situation following a military coup in 2021.

Sudan's military commanders agreed to a 24-hour ceasefire starting Tuesday evening after four days of fighting in Khartoum, which raised concerns of escalating into a civil war. The ceasefire followed international diplomatic efforts, including a conversation between US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and the rival generals. The conflict began after failed talks on transitioning to civilian rule. The United Nations reported at least 185 deaths and over 1,800 injuries. Egypt and the UAE are also involved in mediation efforts, despite allegations of the UAE arming the RSF with thermobaric bombs. Civilian life in Khartoum has been severely disrupted, with shortages of essentials and difficulty in moving safely.

The EU ambassador to Sudan, Aidan O'Hara, was assaulted in his Khartoum residence amidst fighting between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which has resulted in around 200 deaths. EU foreign policy chief Josep Borell condemned the attack as a violation of international law. The UN and the US called for an immediate ceasefire. RSF spokesman Najm Eldin Abdallah defected to the armed forces, and RSF leader Hemedti accused General Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan of bombing civilians and being a radical Islamist. Foreign Secretary James Cleverly and UN Special Representative Volker Perthes urged for peace and negotiations.

In Sudan's capital, Khartoum, at least 25 people were killed and 183 wounded during a battle as the military fought against a coup attempt by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The RSF seized strategic locations, including the presidential palace and Khartoum's international airport. The conflict followed failed talks over a power-sharing plan with civilians. The RSF and military have been vying for power since the deadline to hand over authority to a civilian government passed. International actors, including the US and UK, have called for an immediate end to the violence and urged for a peaceful resolution.

Saudi Arabia and Iran have surprisingly agreed to de-escalate their rivalry, raising hopes for resolving conflicts in Yemen, Syria, Iraq, and Lebanon. Following a Beijing-backed rapprochement, diplomatic activities have increased, with the Syrian foreign minister visiting Saudi Arabia and Saudi talks with Houthi rebels in Yemen showing progress. Experts like Kristian Ulrichsen see the rapprochement as significant, while Charles Lister remains skeptical about its substance. The Gulf states, feeling abandoned by the US, see diplomacy as their best option, while Iran enters negotiations from a perceived position of strength. However, underlying regional conflicts and points of contention, such as Iran's nuclear ambitions, remain unresolved.

Saudi Arabia is set to join the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), a bloc formed by Russia and China, as a 'dialogue partner', a step towards full membership. This move signifies Riyadh's strengthening relationship with Beijing amidst the US's pivot away from the Middle East. The SCO, established in 2001, aims to challenge Western influence and includes countries across Eurasia. Saudi Arabia's decision follows a recent reconciliation with Iran, facilitated by China. The US's reduced engagement in the region has led Gulf allies to seek diverse partnerships, with China's President Xi Jinping playing a key role in expanding Chinese influence in the Gulf.

A UN fact-finding mission established by the United Nations Human Rights Council has concluded that the European Union has been complicit in the detention, murder, torture, rape, and enslavement of migrants in Libya. The EU funds a project to prevent illegal migration from North Africa, which has indirectly supported Libyan armed groups that commit these human rights abuses. The mission found crimes against humanity committed against Libyans and migrants since 2016, including sexual slavery. The report calls for accountability and action from Libyan authorities. The EU denies funding the Libyan coast guard directly, stating their assistance aims to improve search and rescue operations with a focus on human rights.

Kemal Kilicdaroglu, leader of Turkey's centre-left Republican People’s Party (CHP), is campaigning on a promise to expel refugees, specifically targeting Syrian refugees and those who entered illegally from Iran. He visited the earthquake-stricken province of Hatay, pledging to return refugees within two years and to secure national borders. As Turkey's economic crisis worsens, President Erdogan faces a tough re-election battle, with Kilicdaroglu leading in polls 56% to Erdogan's 44%. Kilicdaroglu, an economist and former bureaucrat, is known for his anti-corruption stance and is compared to Mahatma Gandhi by his supporters. The upcoming elections are complicated by a fractured opposition, a subdued independent media, and a judiciary under Erdogan's control.