Senior officials of the United Nations (UN) have issued an urgent warning against an imminent military offensive on Sudan’s strategic city of El Obeid. The officials called for an immediate halt to the escalating military operations in and around the city, expressing deep fears that the violence could mirror the devastating atrocities previously witnessed in North Darfur.
A number of high-ranking UN leaders—including Secretary-General António Guterres, High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk, and Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed—have expressed profound alarm over the escalating fighting in El Obeid. As the capital of North Kordofan State and a major population center, the city has increasingly become a central focal point in Sudan’s ongoing civil war.
In a statement shared on his X (formerly Twitter) account this week, UN Secretary-General António Guterres stated he was “deeply concerned” by the worsening security situation in and around El Obeid, highlighting drone attacks that have impacted civilians and critical civilian infrastructure.
The UN chief called on all parties involved in the conflict to exercise restraint and prioritize the protection of civilians. “I call for restraint from all sides and urge them to take all necessary measures to respect and protect civilians and humanitarians,” he said.
Guterres warned that previous international inaction in Sudan had allowed devastating violence to unfold elsewhere, particularly in Darfur. “Far too many times in this conflict, clear warnings have failed to trigger concerted action by the international community. I urge all those with influence to exert it to prevent further bloodshed,” he stated, adding “We must not allow the horrors of El Fasher to be repeated in El Obeid”.
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk echoed the Secretary-General’s warnings, describing the current developments as “alarmingly similar” to the events that preceded the atrocities in North Darfur.
“We have seen this playbook before. We know where it led then, and cannot now allow a repeat of the preventable atrocities we documented in El Fasher and Zamzam [IDP camp in North Darfur] last year,” Türk said.
The High Commissioner warned that civilians in Kordofan, particularly those living in El Obeid, face grave risks if military operations continue. “Civilians are at grave risk in Kordofan, particularly in El Obeid, in the absence of action to halt the imminent offensive and further military escalation,” he noted.
Türk described the situation as an “impending human rights disaster” and urgently called on influential states to intervene. “Let this be a stark warning to the world of an impending human rights disaster and worsening humanitarian situation. The States with influence have the duty to exercise it now to stop this madness in its tracks,” he urged.
He further emphasized that Sudanese civilians are in desperate need of protection and peace. “The people of Sudan need peace; urgent measures must be taken to protect civilians and prevent further atrocities, including sexual violence, as well as further displacement and civilian suffering,” Türk added. “The world is watching and those responsible for violations must be held accountable.”
Adding to the growing international concern, UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed joined the Secretary-General’s appeal for an end to the violence, stating, “I join the Secretary-General’s call for an immediate cessation of violence and urge all those with influence to act now to prevent further bloodshed.”
El Obeid occupies a strategic position linking western and central Sudan and serves as a critical humanitarian and commercial hub for the region. Any large-scale military offensive in the city could threaten the lives of hundreds of thousands of civilians and further worsen Sudan’s already severe humanitarian crisis.
