Pope Francis on Sunday expressed concerns over the ongoing violent clash between rival military factions in Sudan and called for immediate dialogue to end the hostilities.

The clash between the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) entered the second week on Sunday and has so far left at least 400 people killed and scores wounded.

“Unfortunately, the situation remains grave in Sudan,” said Mr Francis during prayers in Saint Peter’s Square, Rome. “That is why I am renewing my call for the violence to stop as quickly as possible and for dialogue to resume.”

He added, “I invite everyone to pray for our Sudanese brothers and sisters.”

Since last weekend, the bloody clashes between the rival forces have raged in the capital Khartoum and other strategic areas across the country.

Although, it’s unclear who initiated the fighting, the dispute raged over the planned integration of the RSF into the regular army.

This brings the defacto leader of Sudan, the SAF’s General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, into a confrontation with his deputy, the RSF’s General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, who is also referred to as “Hemetti.”

The two men had previously worked together and joined forces to topple the Bashir Omar al-Bashir regime in 2019.

They orchestrated a military coup that ousted the civilian prime minister and cabinet. The constitution was also suspended.

Since the violence broke out, France, Italy, Turkey, and the United States have begun to evacuate their citizens from Sudan.

On Friday, the Nigerian government said it is difficult to evacuate its citizens stuck in troubled Sudan, citing challenges posed to air travel.

“While @nemanigeria and the Nigerian Mission in Sudan have put in place necessary arrangements, any flight now is gravely risky. Airlines on the ground at the airport were all burnt today, there is a curfew in place, and no flights can operate,” said the chairperson of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), Abike Dabiri-Erewa.

Also, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) asked President Muhammadu Buhari’s regime to guarantee the safety of the lives of Nigerians stuck in the North African country.