El Obeid – The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) has expressed deep concern over the escalating military activities in the city of El Obeid, North Kordofan State, including military mobilizations and drone attacks, warning of serious repercussions for the country’s humanitarian and security situation.
IGAD stressed that any further escalation in El Obeid would risk worsening civilian suffering and undermining prospects for a peaceful resolution. The bloc called on all parties to immediately cease hostilities and engage in a serious political dialogue without preconditions.
The statement comes amid growing international concern, with the UN Security Council expressing alarm over reports of significant RSF military reinforcements around the city. The Council warned of the risk of a potential ground assault and the grave atrocities and serious violations against civilians that could result.
The Security Council stressed in a unanimous statement that any military escalation around El Obeid represents a direct threat to the lives of hundreds of thousands of civilians. It called for an immediate cessation of military operations, adherence to international humanitarian law, protection of civilians and infrastructure, and the implementation of commitments under the Jeddah Declaration.
The Council also stressed the need to ensure unhindered humanitarian access and full protection for civilians, while rejecting any attempts to establish a parallel governing authority in areas under RSF control. It further reaffirmed Sudan’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
In the same context, the United Nations has warned of the possibility of a new wave of large-scale violence in El Obeid, noting that the city serves as a vital humanitarian hub in the Kordofan region, and that continued escalation threatens a severe deterioration in the situation on the ground.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres said that drone strikes and clashes around the city have raised serious concern, calling for an immediate ceasefire, the protection of civilians, and the facilitation of humanitarian aid access.
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk warned that any large-scale attack on El Obeid could amount to serious international crimes, noting the worsening humanitarian conditions under siege and ongoing escalation.
In a humanitarian context, the Sudan Doctors’ Network said that shelling targeting civilian infrastructure in the city, including electricity and fuel stations, has disrupted critical health services such as dialysis centers and emergency care units, in addition to a partial suspension of water services.
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk warned that any large-scale attack on El Obeid could amount to serious international crimes, pointing to deteriorating humanitarian conditions under siege and ongoing escalation.
These developments come amid a growing escalation in RSF drone attacks and strikes on infrastructure across several Sudanese states, alongside warnings of a widening conflict and an unprecedented deterioration in the humanitarian situation.
