US warns of atrocity risk as RSF surrounds Sudan's el-Obeid
Washington said an RSF assault on el-Obeid could deepen Sudan's humanitarian disaster, as UN officials warned 500,000 civilians may be at risk.
By James Whitfield · Staff Writer
2 min read
The United States has warned that Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces and allied fighters appear to be surrounding el-Obeid, raising fears of a new assault on a city where civilians are already under threat. The State Department said Monday that an attack could lead to “mass atrocities” and worsen a war that has driven one of the world’s gravest humanitarian crises.
In a statement, the State Department said the RSF was gathering forces around el-Obeid and urged the group and its allies to halt actions that could put civilians in danger, block aid or add to civilian suffering. Washington also repeated its call for the warring sides to reach a negotiated end to the conflict.
“There are alarming indications that mass atrocities could be imminent, further worsening Sudan’s already catastrophic humanitarian crisis,” the department said.
The RSF has been fighting Sudan’s army since April 2023, according to Al Jazeera and AFP. The war has killed tens of thousands of people and forced millions from their homes, they reported.
El-Obeid, in North Kordofan, has become a focus of international concern as the fighting threatens to expand. The United Nations has warned that an assault on the city could resemble the October 2025 attack on el-Fasher, which UN officials have said bore the “hallmarks of genocide.”
The UN Human Rights Council said over the weekend that 500,000 civilians in el-Obeid could face atrocities if the RSF attacks the city. The council also said 50 civilians had been killed in drone strikes over 10 days in el-Obeid and North Kordofan.
The State Department said civilians have paid the heaviest price in the conflict and called for safe and rapid humanitarian access. It said the warring parties must protect civilians under international humanitarian law and allow people trying to flee to do so without fear or obstruction.
Washington’s statement adds to warnings from UN bodies and other international observers about the risk to el-Obeid. The US said the RSF and allied forces must avoid steps that would endanger civilians or prevent aid from reaching people in need.
The State Department also urged both sides to take immediate steps to prevent further atrocities. Its statement said the war has imposed an “intolerable toll” on Sudanese civilians, who have suffered from the destruction and violence caused by the conflict.
This story draws on original reporting from Al Jazeera.