Alarm bells are ringing at the United Nations Security Council over Sudan's deteriorating crisis. The council warned Saturday of grave dangers unfolding around El Obeid after months of bloodshed in El Fasher.
Military buildup by the Rapid Support Forces near El Obeid has triggered international concern. Officials fear mass atrocities could strike the North Kordofan state capital unless fighting stops immediately.
War between the RSF and Sudanese Armed Forces has ravaged the country since April 2023. Both sides have ignored repeated calls to protect civilians and respect humanitarian law.
The Security Council reminded warring parties of a May 2023 Saudi agreement they signed. That deal required them to allow aid delivery and shield non-combatants from harm.
RSF drone strikes have hammered El Obeid repeatedly in recent weeks. Attacks across Sudan have intensified, according to council members monitoring the conflict.
The UN wants all documented abuses investigated and perpetrators prosecuted. Council members also cautioned foreign powers against fueling the violence through interference.
Resolution 2791 from 2025 requires member states to enforce council mandates on Sudan. Compliance matters now more than ever, officials stressed in Saturday's statement.
Europe is watching the situation with mounting dread. On Saturday, the European Union issued a stark warning: El Obeid cannot become another El Fasher.
Civilians face systematic killing based on their ethnicity, the EU noted. Infrastructure has been deliberately targeted to cripple the city's survival capacity.
Brussels demanded the RSF cease all military operations in the area immediately. Humanitarian workers must gain safe passage to reach trapped populations, the bloc insisted.
People trapped in El Obeid need freedom to escape, according to EU statements. Aid organizations cannot function while violence continues unchecked in the region.
