Hundreds of civilians have been killed in fierce fighting between army troops and paramilitary forces in Sudan this week. The fighting that has erupted in the capital Khartoum and elsewhere in the country is a direct result of a vicious power struggle within the country's military leadership. Aid agencies say it's nearly impossible to provide humanitarian assistance to people and the health system is close to collapse.

So what's led to this crisis? Who controls the country at the moment? And who are the key international players who can exert influence?

Shaun Ley is joined by :

Dame Rosalind Marsden, associate fellow at the Chatham House International Affairs think tank in London, a former EU Special Representative for Sudan and South Sudan and also Britain's former Ambassador to Sudan.

Murithi Mutiga, project director, Horn of Africa at the International Crisis Group.

Mohanad Hashim, BBC journalist and expert on Sudan

Also featuring :

Cameron Hudson, director of the US State Department's Africa Bureau in George W. Bush's administration. He also served as chief of staff to successive presidential envoys during the Darfur insurgency and the secession of what become South Sudan in 2011.

Tagreed Abdin, an architect who lives with her family in Khartoum.

James Copnall, BBC's correspondent in the Sudanese capital, Khartoum from 2009-2012.

Producers : Rumella Dasgupta and Ellen Otzen