UN warns RSF imminent offensive on El Obeid, Sudan

The United Nations has warned that the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) are preparing an imminent ground offensive on El Obeid, the capital of Sudan’s North Kordofan state. High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk said the buildup of RSF fighters, supported by drone strikes and artillery, could lead to serious international crimes and deepen the humanitarian catastrophe affecting millions of Sudanese. Secretary‑General António Guterres expressed alarm, urging states with influence to intervene and stop the violence.

The UN and 29 countries, including the United Kingdom, France, Germany and Norway, cautioned that up to 500,000 civilians are at risk of large‑scale atrocities, recalling previous massacres in El Fasher and the Zamzam displacement camp. Recent drone attacks have killed dozens of civilians and disrupted essential services, further endangering aid operations. The conflict, which began in April 2023, has displaced more than 13 million people and created one of the world’s largest hunger and displacement crises.