Sudan rivals agree to protect civilians but no truce

 There is still a long way to go before civilians in Sudan who are caught in the fighting receive any aid.

The warring sides agreed to uphold humanitarian values but refused to cease hostilities. According to the statement, they will safeguard aid workers, provide safe exit from combat zones, and refrain from using civilians as human shields.

After looting and violence that specifically targeted aid, the two sides agreed to allow in the urgently required humanitarian assistance. They are still debating a plan for a ceasefire and a way to keep track of it.

Together with the Saudis, US officials have served as mediators in the negotiations. The negotiations were challenging, according to an American ambassador, and the two parties were still "far apart."

More confrontations shook Khartoum, the capital of Sudan, on Thursday, but overall things were quieter than they had been the day before.

When the RSF refused to join the Sudanese army as part of a planned transition to civilian authority, the conflict broke out in the middle of April.