Reports: RSF fighters reportedly prepare to attack el-Obeid as displacement worsens

What happened

BBC Africa Sudan reports that thousands sheltering in el-Obeid — a city controlled by the Sudanese military in North Kordofan — face growing threats as paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) appear to be preparing an attack. Clashes have escalated in the region, with verified footage showing RSF fighters staged in nearby Nyala and vowing to move on el-Obeid, a critical strategic point and refuge for displaced civilians.

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 has become a key destination for those fleeing violence, with the UN International Organization for Migration (IOM) estimating more than 83,000 civilians have arrived since March. Contrary to the ongoing drone strikes and attacks reportedly carried out by RSF forces, satellite images confirm the displacement camp has expanded significantly. Aid workers report dozens of new households arriving daily, underscoring the continuing displacement pressures despite security risks.

Humanitarian conditions are deteriorating sharply. The UN warns that nearly 400,000 people near el-Obeid are facing food shortages due to what officials describe as a ‘functional siege,’ with RSF commanders steadily cutting off supply routes. Verified reports from aid organizations indicate that supply convoys have been targeted by drone strikes and flights carrying aid to the city’s airport have stopped. Key infrastructure such as fuel stations, power stations, and market warehouses have also suffered damage from airstrikes attributed to RSF forces.

Known from the source

• Thousands of displaced people have taken shelter in el-Obeid city in North Kordofan.
• El-Obeid is controlled by the Sudanese military and heavily defended.
• The RSF has carried out drone strikes on el-Obeid, including on critical infrastructure.
• The displacement camp at el-Obeid has expanded significantly since March.
• More than 83,000 civilians have fled fighting and sought refuge in el-Obeid according to the UN IOM.

What remains unclear

While the number of RSF drone strikes on el-Obeid dropped in July — reportedly as RSF responded to military actions elsewhere — the risk of a major ground assault remains. Verified RSF video footage shows fighters in armored vehicles near Nyala with explicit threats to capture el-Obeid. These developments raise fears that atrocities similar to past massacres in el-Fasher, where RSF forces overran Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) defenders and reportedly executed thousands, could be repeated. However, these prior atrocity claims, as well as upcoming attack impacts, remain unconfirmed within the supplied source context.

What remains unclear: Confirm whether the central claim is corroborated; until then treat it as unconfirmed/hearsay. Whether RSF is actively preparing a ground attack on el-Obeid as claimed. Verification of any current civilian casualties or atrocity reports linked to fighting in el-Obeid. Authenticity and verification of recent RSF video footage threatening el-Obeid.

Evidence note

This story contains report-led claims. The article keeps those claims attributed and treats them as unconfirmed/hearsay unless independently corroborated.

Original source: BBC Africa Sudan. Open the source.