Fears of a major battle in the city of Al-Bayda are escalating, prompting increased regional and international mediation efforts to prevent further military escalation in Sudan. A four-party meeting including Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and the United States was held in Cairo on June 20th to address the crisis. Sudanese Foreign Minister Mahdi Salem led a delegation that met with a senior U.S. advisor on Arab and African affairs, as well as other officials. Khartoum is reportedly presenting firm demands during these diplomatic talks. Simultaneously, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) are expanding their presence into the Zaghawa region. Reports also indicate the Central Bank of Sudan is allegedly exploiting fuel financing issues in an attempt to gain control over the gold sector.