El-Obeid under siege by RSF amid UN warnings of looming catastrophe

What happened

Al Jazeera Sudan reports that El-Obeid, the capital of North Kordofan state, is currently surrounded by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) amid ongoing clashes with Sudan’s military. The UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights has warned of an upcoming humanitarian catastrophe as the city faces relentless drone attacks and a siege, echoing the RSF’s 18-month siege and subsequent mass atrocities in El-Fasher last year.

Outside Brief is treating this as a source-led account. Any disputed responsibility, casualty figure, battlefield claim or single-source assertion should be treated as unconfirmed/hearsay unless confirmed by another reliable source or a named official. El-Obeid’s strategic importance stems from its location as a key gateway between RSF-controlled Darfur and army-held eastern regions, facilitating movement of goods, people, and supplies. The city hosts critical infrastructure including a government airbase, an oil pipeline, and a significant Arabic gum market. Control over El-Obeid would allow the RSF to connect vast territories across Sudan and potentially reshape the political landscape after its expulsion from Khartoum in March 2025.

The siege has led to severe civilian hardship: frequent drone strikes have damaged power and water infrastructure, causing blackouts and hampering hospital operations, according to UN and Yale Humanitarian Research Lab reports. Approximately 500,000 people, including 105,000 displaced individuals, are trapped inside the city with limited access to essentials or safe exit routes. An international coalition representing 30 countries has condemned the risk of atrocities, citing reports of ethnic violence and sexual and gender-based abuses.

Known from the source

• El-Obeid is under siege by the RSF amid Sudan’s ongoing civil war.
• Half a million people, including 105,000 displaced persons, are trapped inside El-Obeid.
• There have been repeated drone strikes damaging infrastructure including power stations and water supplies.
• The UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights warns of a looming humanitarian catastrophe.
• El-Obeid is strategically located between RSF-controlled Darfur and army-controlled eastern regions.

What remains unclear

Amnesty International and an independent UN mission have previously documented RSF’s brutal campaign in El-Fasher, describing it as including ethnic cleansing and bearing the 'hallmarks of genocide.' However, international warnings issued before did not prevent those atrocities. Observers now fear a similar outcome in El-Obeid if urgent international action is not taken.

What remains unclear: Confirm whether the central claim is corroborated; until then treat it as unconfirmed/hearsay. Current control status and frontlines in El-Obeid. Verified casualty figures from recent drone strikes and clashes. Independent confirmation of alleged ethnic and gender-based violence in El-Obeid.

Evidence note

Outside Brief has kept this brief source-led and attributed. Claims should be read alongside the original source linked below.

Original source: Al Jazeera Sudan. Open the source.