In brief
Hundreds of thousands have been forced into the army‑controlled city of El‑Obeid seeking refuge from the ongoing civil war, but the looming approach of the Rapid Support Forces has turned the city into a potential flashpoint for violence. Intensifying drone strikes and ground campaigns threaten the massive displacement camp that has grown since March, while supply routes are being cut off. UN agencies warn of severe food shortages and a looming siege, and the United Arab Emirates has been linked to RSF support. With the military building defensive walls around the city, the humanitarian situation worsens amid rising fears of a repeat massacre akin to that at El‑Fasher. International calls for a halt to support and increased pressure on the RSF aim to prevent a new wave of atrocities in El‑Obeid.
Thousands of civilians who fled to El‑Obeid seeking refuge from Horn of Africa's spiralling war are facing an imminent threat as the RSF advances.
The North Kordofan clash escalated when RSF troops began targeting the city, feared to be a strategic bridge between RSF‑held western territories and Sudanese military control of central and White Nile regions. The mass displacement camp grew dramatically since March, with more than 83,000 civilians now sheltering in the city.
UN food agencies warn of nearly 400,000 people confronting shortages amid prolonged RSF drone attacks cutting supply routes. The Sudanese military has begun building a defensive berm to keep intruders out, contrasting with the RSF’s earlier wall that choked El‑Fasher in 2024.
International bodies — EU, G7, UN — have called for an end to armed, logistical or financial support to combatants, noting potential for new atrocities. The United Arab Emirates’s alleged backing of the RSF is part of the dispute, with officials denying the claims.
RSF commanders have publicly vowed to move forward, promising imminent combat in El‑Obeid as they advance. The siege threatens to trap thousands and magnify the humanitarian crisis.
Local civilians, disbelieving the promised safety, face suspicion and hostility from residents fearing infiltration of RSF sympathisers. The city’s future hangs in balance, with global pressure crucial to prevent a fresh wave of mass violence.
