Uganda, May 8 -- As Sudanese rival sides began direct talks in Saudi Arabia's capital, Jeddah, pressures are mounting against the warring factions to strike a humanitarian truce deal.

The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) on Sunday urged the warring parties to immediately and unconditionally agree to a humanitarian ceasefire.

The regional bloc's call comes one day after representatives of the Sudan's army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) start their first face-to-face dialogue in Jeddah.

The "pre-negotiation talks" aimed to secure a ceasefire are sponsored by the United States and Saudi Arabia.

In a statement issued Sunday, the East African bloc, IGAD said it is closely following the humanitarian ceasefi...