Follow the latest Sudan updates here
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres on Wednesday called on the international community to support Sudan as the African nation faces a “humanitarian catastrophe”.
“Khartoum is in turmoil; Darfur is burning once again,” Mr Guterres told reporters in Nairobi.
“The Sudanese are facing a humanitarian catastrophe. Hospitals destroyed. Humanitarian warehouses looted. Millions facing food insecurity," he said. “We need secure and immediate access to distribute aid to people who need it most."
He urged all parties to put the “interests of the Sudanese people first” and for the fighting to stop before the conflict “explodes into an all-out war that could affect the region for years to come”.
Mr Guterres is in Nairobi for a two-day official visit to hold talks with Kenya's President William Ruto on the security and humanitarian situation in Sudan. He echoed Mr Ruto’s calls for de-escalation, a return to the negotiating table and an agreement on a lasting ceasefire.
“It's important that the whole of the international community comes together and tell clearly the two generals but also all those that eventually are taking profit of this, that the present situation is totally unacceptable,” he said, referring to Sudanese military leader Gen Abdel Fattah Al Burhan and leader of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces Gen Mohamed Dagalo.
“A lasting ceasefire needs to take place. Unfortunately, we are not yet there.”
On Tuesday, the foreign ministry of neighbouring South Sudan announced that Gen Burhan and Gen Daglo "have agreed in principle for a seven-day truce from May 4 to 11".
Earlier truces between the RSF and the army, whose internal power struggle escalated into open confrontation in mid-April, have varied in duration from 24 to 72 hours. However, none of them have been adhered to completely.
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi warned on Tuesday that the fighting in neighbouring Sudan was affecting "the entire region".
The Saudi-headquartered Organisation of Islamic Cooperation on Wednesday held an emergency meeting to discuss the situation in Sudan.
The conflict has created a humanitarian crisis, with about 100,000 people forced to flee — often with little food or water — to neighbouring countries, according to the UN.
UN aid chief Martin Griffiths arrived in Port Sudan on the Red Sea coast early on Wednesday on an urgent mission to find ways to bring relief to the millions of Sudanese affected by the conflict.
He said he was seeking assurances from the warring factions to safeguard the delivery of humanitarian assistance hours after air strikes in Khartoum undermined a new ceasefire.
Mr Griffiths said the UN had a plan for delivering the aid and supplies needed to address the dire situation but noted that “we still require agreements and arrangements to allow for movement of staff and supplies”.
The aid chief added that he had been told by the World Food Programme that six of their lorries travelling to Darfur were looted en route despite assurances from authorities of safety and security.
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Analysis
Members of Syria's Alawite minority community face threat in their heartland after one of the deadliest days in country’s recent history. Read more
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Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026
1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years
If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.
2. E-invoicing in the UAE
Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.
3. More tax audits
Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.
4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime
Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.
5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit
There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.
6. Further transfer pricing enforcement
Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.
7. Limited time periods for audits
Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.
8. Pillar 2 implementation
Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.
9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services
Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.
10. Substance and CbC reporting focus
Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.
Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer
The Prison Letters of Nelson Mandela
Edited by Sahm Venter
Published by Liveright
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