A 72-hour ceasefire arranged by the US between Sudan's warring generals went into effect Tuesday, following ten days of urban violence that killed hundreds, injured thousands, and prompted a significant departure of foreigners.

The Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and Rapid Support Forces (RSF) consented to the ceasefire "after intense negotiations," said Secretary of State Antony Blinken in a statement issued shortly before the truce went into effect at midnight (2200 GMT Monday).

PHOTO | COURTESY sudan war

Previous attempts to halt the battle failed, but both parties confirmed they had agreed to a three-day break.

The RSF paramilitary tweeted, This ceasefire aims to establish humanitarian corridors, allowing citizens and residents to access essential resources, healthcare, and safe zones, while also evacuating diplomatic missions.

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The SAF announced in a Facebook statement that it would follow the truce if its opponents complied.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres had previously warned that Sudan was on the "precipice of an abyss" and that the violence "could engulf the entire region and beyond."

The combat has pitted forces loyal to army leader Abdel Fattah al-Burhan against those loyal to his former deputy, RSF commander Mohamed Hamdan Daglo.

The RSF arose from the Janjaweed militia, unleashed in Darfur by then-President Omar al-Bashir, leading to war crimes charges against Bashir and others.

PHOTO | COURTESY residents fleeing

The two generals deposed the largest civilian bloc from power in a coup in 2021, the Forces of Freedom and Change, claimed the truce would allow for "dialogue on the modalities of a permanent ceasefire."

UN agencies say at least 427 people have been killed and another 3,700 injured.

According to Egypt's foreign ministry, the assistant administrative attache of Cairo's embassy in Khartoum was among the most recent casualties.

Several countries have begun the evacuation of their citizens from sudan. On Monday, Spain flew out over 100 people to various destinations while kenya is planning to evacuate more than 300 Kenyans living in the country.