The Sudanese Human Rights Observatory has warned of the risks posed by an imminent military attack on the city of El Obeid in North Kordofan State, amid United Nations and international reports indicating threats to more than 50,000 civilians, including approximately 10,000 displaced people who fled conflicts in Kordofan and Darfur.
In a statement, the Observatory said that the warnings are based on field reports indicating military buildups by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), ongoing clashes around the city, and drone attacks, all of which increase the likelihood of serious violations of international humanitarian law.
The Observatory held the RSF directly responsible for any violations that may result from a siege of the city or attacks on infrastructure and vital facilities, including hospitals and power stations, noting that similar incidents have been documented in the recent past.
The Observatory also called on the Sudanese Armed Forces to comply with international humanitarian law, avoid conducting military operations from within residential neighborhoods, refrain from targeting civilian areas, and not use allegations of cooperation with the RSF as a justification for unlawful arrests.
The statement stressed that El Obeid serves as a strategic hub for the delivery of humanitarian assistance across different regions of Sudan, warning that any large-scale military operations within the city could disrupt relief efforts and worsen displacement crises.
The Observatory called for an immediate halt to any military mobilization or attacks threatening the city and its surroundings, the opening of safe humanitarian corridors, and the unhindered delivery of humanitarian assistance to those in need.
