As troops loyal to two Sudanese strongmen battled for control of the country for a fourth day, diplomats were working to prevent any risk of regional powers being dragged into the conflict.

“One of the worst things that can happen is that this becomes a regional conflict where countries in the neighbourhood intervene on behalf of either of the parties,” said Endre Stiansen, Norway’s ambassador to Sudan, whose Khartoum residence was hit by a missile on Sunday.

As the international airport close to the embassy came under a heavy bombardment — which Stiansen called a “barrage like nothing I’ve ever heard” — the diplomat said there was a risk of regional powers taking sides. “You can have a divided country if this is not handled properly,” he warned.