A coalition of seven European nations has issued an urgent joint statement demanding an immediate cessation of hostilities in the Sudanese city of El-Obeid. As the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) tighten their encirclement of the strategic North Kordofan hub, international observers warn that the city is on the “precipice of an atrocity,” echoing the catastrophic violence witnessed in El-Fasher last year.
The joint appeal, coordinated by the United Kingdom and signed by France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, and Norway, highlights the rapidly deteriorating security landscape. Foreign officials noted that in the last 24 hours alone, repeated drone strikes have targeted critical civilian infrastructure, including fuel stations, electricity grids, and essential supply routes across North Kordofan and White Nile states.
These attacks have effectively severed access to basic services for more than 500,000 people, including 200,000 internally displaced persons who had previously sought refuge in the city. UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper emphasized the gravity of the situation, drawing direct parallels to the siege of El-Fasher, where the RSF was accused of crimes bearing the “hallmarks of genocide.”
“Last year, the world watched in horror as the Rapid Support Forces raped, pillaged, and murdered their way through El-Fasher,” Cooper stated. “We cannot let this happen again. El-Obeid is on the precipice of an atrocity that will deepen the wounds already inflicted on Sudan.”
Beyond the immediate threat of a ground offensive, humanitarian agencies are struggling to maintain operations. The blockade has caused the cost of basic commodities to skyrocket, with water and food prices reaching unaffordable levels for the local population. With the rainy season approaching, the deliberate targeting of fuel and supply lines threatens to worsen acute food insecurity and leave the region without power.
The United Nations has joined the call for de-escalation, noting that the buildup of RSF forces around the city suggests a major offensive is imminent. The international coalition is urging the RSF to honor its commitments under the Jeddah Declaration, halt all military operations immediately, and ensure safe, unhindered access for humanitarian aid. As diplomatic efforts to revive peace talks remain stalled, the international community faces mounting pressure to provide a unified response to prevent further mass atrocities in the ongoing Sudanese conflict.
