The US has warned Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and their allies against attacking El-Obeid, the capital city of North Kordofan state.
Over the past few weeks, the paramilitary group has mobilized troops around the city amid a surge in drone strikes, sparking global fears of a repeat of the mass atrocities seen in Darfur’s El-Fasher.
‘Imminent Atrocities’ in El-Obeid
The US Department of State voiced deep concern over the RSF’s moves around El-Obeid, warning of “imminent atrocities” that could further exacerbate the humanitarian crisis in Sudan.
“The United States is deeply concerned by reports that the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and their allied forces are massing forces around El-Obeid, Sudan, in a manner that significantly increases the risk of violence against civilians, including attacks on civilian objects and further escalation of the conflict in El-Obeid and across the Kordofan region,” Spokesperson Tommy Pigott said in a statement.
“There are alarming indications that mass atrocities could be imminent, further worsening Sudan’s already catastrophic humanitarian crisis,” he added.
US Warning
The US statement issued a firm warning to the RSF and their allies over the imminent attack on El-Obeid. “The RSF and their allied forces must cease any actions that could endanger civilians, impede humanitarian assistance, or contribute to further atrocities and suffering,” Pigott noted.
“The belligerents must uphold their obligations under international humanitarian law to protect civilians and ensure that those seeking safety can do so without fear or obstruction,” he added.
The US stressed that there is “no military solution” to the conflict in Sudan. “The belligerents must pursue a negotiated settlement, without preconditions, that ends the violence and addresses the immense suffering of the Sudanese people,” Pigott said.
The State Department’s Spokesperson noted that the US will closely coordinate with international partners and Sudanese stakeholders to “advance a humanitarian truce, secure unhindered humanitarian access, and support a pathway to a civilian transition and durable peace.”
El-Obeid’s Encirclement
El-Obeid is located approximately 411 km from Khartoum, serving as the main link between Darfur, Kordofan and central Sudan. It is also home to the headquarters of the 5th Infantry Division. Its strategic location has made it a key hub for trade, transport and the movement of goods.
Over the past two weeks, the RSF and their allied militias have launched dozens of drone attacks against the city, killing civilians, destroying infrastructure, and cutting off access to basic services and supply routes.
The paramilitary group has also amassed substantial military reinforcement around El-Obeid amid reports of a potential large-scale ground offensive on the strategic city.
Global Alarm
The US statement follows similar urgent appeals from the UN. In a statement on Saturday, the UN Security Council voiced concern over “the imminent risk of mass atrocities and demanded the RSF immediately halt its assault on El-Obeid.”
Moreover, the Council members reiterated that “all parties must protect civilians and comply with international law, including international humanitarian law, as well as abide by commitments made under the Jeddah Declaration.”
They also urged all UN Member States to refrain from external interference that could fuel conflict and instability in Sudan.
Similarly, the African Union (AU) expressed concern over the escalating violence in and around El-Obeid, and the continued deterioration of the security and humanitarian situation across Sudan.
“The Chairperson calls on all parties to immediately cease hostilities, exercise maximum restraint, and uphold their obligations under international humanitarian law and the commitments contained in the Jeddah Declaration,” it said in a statement.
UN officials warned of a repeat of El-Fasher scenario in El-Obeid. When El-Fasher fell to the RSF in late October 2025, the paramilitary group launched a wave of atrocities, including summary executions, sexual violence and mass detention, which the UN said had showed “hallmarks of genocide” against non-Arab communities and amounted to “war crimes and possible crimes against humanity.”
“We must not allow the horrors of El-Fasher to be repeated in El-Obeid,” UN Secretary-General António Guterres said in a statement.
Intensified Diplomatic Efforts
The war in Sudan broke out in April 2023 between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the RSF, triggering what the UN called “the world’s largest humanitarian and displacement crisis.”
So far, the conflict has killed at least 59,000 people and left around 11,000 missing. It has also displaced 14 million people in Sudan and neighboring countries.
In a bid to contain this growing catastrophe, regional and international players have intensified diplomatic efforts. Saudi Arabia‘s Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan on Saturday joined a quadrilateral meeting with his Egyptian and Turkish counterparts, alongside Senior Advisor to the US President for Arab and African Affairs Massad Boulos, in Cairo.
While in Cairo, Prince Faisal also held a bilateral meeting with Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty. They later joined a trilateral meeting with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan.
The meetings in Cairo focused on discussing the latest regional developments, with particular focus on the situation in Sudan. Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the US, alongside the UAE, are part of the Quad group – a mechanism aimed at supporting peace efforts in Sudan.
