The European Union has issued a stark warning to the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Sudan, threatening “robust measures” if the paramilitary group proceeds with its military assault on the strategic city of El Obeid. In an official statement released on Friday by the High Representative on behalf of the bloc, European leadership expressed grave alarm over a massive military build-up by the RSF surrounding the capital of North Kordofan State.
The EU demanded an immediate halt to all military operations in and around the municipality, emphasizing that the escalating offensive poses an existential threat to hundreds of thousands of innocent people caught in the crossfire.
Central to the European Union’s urgency is the catastrophic humanitarian fallout that a full-scale siege would trigger. El Obeid currently shelters an estimated 500,000 civilians, a population that includes approximately 100,000 internally displaced persons who had already fled violence in other regions of the war-torn nation.
European diplomats explicitly stated that El Obeid cannot be allowed to become another El Fasher—the North Darfur capital that has been ravaged by months of relentless bombardment, starvation, and systematic atrocities. The bloc stressed that international humanitarian law and human rights protocols must be strictly upheld by all warring factions, with a specific focus on protecting women, girls, and critical civilian infrastructure from deliberate or indiscriminate targeting.
​The European Union further clarified that any actions intentionally designed to obstruct humanitarian access or prevent the safe passage of fleeing populations will be treated as direct violations of international law. With millions across Sudan already facing unprecedented levels of famine and displacement, the blockade of aid corridors remains a primary concern for international observers. By signaling its willingness to deploy robust measures, Brussels has indicated that it is prepared to expand its sanctions regime, targeting the financial networks and leadership individuals within the RSF who are found responsible for engineering the siege or blocking lifesaving relief supplies.
​Beyond the immediate combatants, the EU turned its attention to external destabilization by urging all foreign actors to immediately cease their involvement in the conflict. In alignment with commitments previously made under the Berlin Principles, the statement called for an end to all forms of direct and indirect foreign support, noting that external weapon flows and political backing only serve to prolong and intensify the suffering of the Sudanese population. The bloc reiterated that a military solution is impossible and called for an immediate return to the negotiating table to secure a lasting, verifiable ceasefire.
​Looking toward the country’s long-term future, the EU reaffirmed its stance as a member of the diplomatic Quintet, pledging continued solidarity with the Sudanese people. The statement concluded with a call for a Sudanese-led, inclusive civilian political process aimed at restoring democratic governance, establishing accountability for war crimes, and rebuilding a stable transitional administration.
