As the conflict in Sudan enters its sixth day, there is mounting worry that the power struggle pitting the country's top generals could spill over into neighboring countries.

Cameron Hudson, a former advisor to successive US Sudan envoys and an associate at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, says the United States should have sanctioned both generals who have violent pasts. This would have helped avert the conflict that has been building up for some time, with profoundly destabilizing ramifications for the region and with ordinary Sudanese paying the heaviest price.