‘Nobody is left’: brutal fighting lays waste to wealthy central Khartoum

The most sought-after addresses in Sudan's capital city are now so dangerous that residents cannot wait to flee

On one street is a small cafe where diplomats, successful businesspeople and visiting dignitaries enjoyed smoothies and burgers under umbrellas set against the blistering sun. On another is a showroom for custom-designed kitchens imported from Europe, a once well stocked pharmacy and a fast-food joint. Down dusty potholed roads, there are villas behind high walls and apartment blocks where chandeliers hang above shining marble stairways.

These central Khartoum neighbourhoods, once the most sought-after addresses in Sudan's capital city, are now so dangerous that residents cannot wait to flee. For almost a week, they have been the stage for a brutal power struggle, shattered by shelling, grenades and automatic rifle fire that trapped tens of thousands in their homes.