The city of El Obeid, home to half a million residents, is on the brink of disaster as escalating drone strikes unleash a 'human rights catastrophe'. Aid workers on the ground describe the situation as 'terrible', with the most recent attacks claiming over 20 lives, including students and civilians, after schools and fuel stations were targeted. The sheer scale of the violence has left those in the city reeling, with an astonishing 40 to 45 drones now a regular sight in the skies above.
Located at the crossroads of western Darfur's RSF-controlled areas and army-held regions to the east, El Obeid is strategically crucial in the ongoing conflict between Sudan's Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The SAF is fighting to prevent a repeat blockade by the RSF, which had successfully besieged the city in February last year. This renewed threat has seen repeated infrastructure strikes on El Obeid.
The human toll of this conflict continues to rise, with at least 45 people killed and 41 injured in just 15 drone strikes between June 6th and 28th. These figures have sparked growing fears that another massacre like the one witnessed in El Fasher last year may be on the horizon – where RSF fighters were accused of ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity after capturing the city following an 18-month siege.
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk sounded a stark warning during a Geneva emergency debate, which was backed by the UK and several other countries. He declared, 'The signs from El Obeid are clear: another human rights catastrophe is unfolding in Sudan.' Türk's words were a 'red alert', urging global leaders to take immediate action to prevent atrocity crimes in El Obeid and elsewhere in Kordofan.
El Obeid hosts an SAF infantry division, an airbase, and approximately 100,000 refugees displaced by the conflict. Experts have noted significant RSF troop concentrations surrounding the city, raising concerns about a potential ground offensive. A Yale Humanitarian Research Lab report revealed damage to critical infrastructure, including electricity generation, fuel storage, and the main market – consistent with intentional attacks on civilian assets essential for survival. Furthermore, reports indicate that the SAF has built defensive positions spanning around 30 miles, suggesting preparations for a siege. The Acled conflict monitoring group recorded 27 drone strikes in and around El Obeid last month – the highest monthly total since the conflict began in 2023.