UN Security Council Warns of Mass Atrocities in El Obeid as RSF Encircles City of 500,000
Updated
Updated · Human Rights Watch · Jun 22
UN Security Council Warns of Mass Atrocities in El Obeid as RSF Encircles City of 500,000
2 articles · Updated · Human Rights Watch · Jun 22
Summary
June 20 brought a UN Security Council warning that El Obeid faces an “imminent risk of mass atrocities” as Rapid Support Forces tighten their encirclement of the North Kordofan capital.
Volker Türk, the UN human rights chief, had issued a similar alert on June 18, underscoring fears that months of fighting between the RSF and Sudanese Armed Forces could tip into large-scale civilian killings.
A June 26 Security Council meeting on Sudan is now a focal point for calls to deter the RSF through new sanctions on commanders and key supporters, including alleged backers in the UAE.
The pressure comes as evidence mounts over outside support for the RSF, including a Human Rights Watch report that hundreds of Colombian contractors passed through UAE military facilities before deployment to Sudan.
Sudan’s war, which began in April 2023, has killed tens of thousands, displaced millions and deepened one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises.
As the UN warns of atrocities, will it sanction powerful states accused of fueling Sudan's devastating civil war?
With evidence linking the UAE to Sudanese militias, could a nation be held accountable for abetting genocide?
500,000 Civilians at Risk: El Obeid’s Strategic Role in Sudan’s Escalating Civil War and Humanitarian Disaster
Overview
Sudan’s civil war, which began in April 2023 between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces over the integration of the RSF into the military, has made El Obeid a critical battleground. The city’s strategic location is vital for controlling the Kordofan region, which in turn affects Sudan’s oil supply and much of the country. As of June 2026, El Obeid faces an imminent threat of intensified conflict, prompting international efforts led by the UN Special Envoy to encourage dialogue and prevent a full-scale assault, highlighting the urgent need for action to protect civilians and stabilize the region.