UN warns of humanitarian catastrophe in Al-Obeid as RSF siege intensifies
The UN has warned of a humanitarian catastrophe in the city of Al-Obeid as the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) intensify their siege, with a risk of genocide.
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The United Nations has issued a stark warning that a humanitarian catastrophe is unfolding in the city of Al-Obeid, the capital of North Kordofan, as the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) intensify their siege. The UN human rights chief, Volker Turk, told an emergency meeting of the Human Rights Council that civilians in the city have been under siege for 18 months, battered by relentless drone strikes and cut off from water and electricity. At least 45 civilians have been killed in recent days, and the UN has warned of a risk of genocide.
The conflict in Sudan, now in its third year, has split the country into two main zones. The Sudanese Armed Forces control most of the east, north, and central regions, while the RSF holds its strongest positions in the west, including Darfur, where mass killings, rape, and torture have been reported. The RSF has now concentrated forces around Al-Obeid, a strategically vital city that could give them a launchpad to retake the capital, Khartoum, once the rainy season ends in late September or October.
Civilians who have fled the fighting describe desperate conditions. One displaced person said: "We are exhausted. We were displaced from the valley to this location, and the journey to the city of Al-Obeid took over a month. There are no aid supplies. We are in need of water and food." The UN has urged world leaders to act now to prevent further atrocities, drawing parallels to the Darfur genocide of 2003, which the RSF was originally created to carry out under the former regime of Omar al-Bashir.
Analysts point to the role of external support for the RSF, particularly from the United Arab Emirates, which has been accused of supplying weapons to the paramilitary group even as it faced its own security challenges. The international community has been criticised for issuing statements without taking concrete action. The question remains whether the RSF leadership can control its various units and prevent atrocities even if ordered to do so. The siege of Al-Obeid is seen as a critical test of whether the world has learned the lessons of previous failures in Sudan.
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Key Claims
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Channel Perspectives
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Channel 4 focused on the humanitarian catastrophe in Al-Obeid, emphasising the siege tactics used by the RSF and the historical context of their atrocities. The report included an interview with an expert who highlighted the role of the UAE in supporting the RSF and questioned whether the international community would take meaningful action. The tone was urgent and critical of inaction.
- “The United Nations human rights chief has warned that a humanitarian catastrophe is developing in Sudan's Al-Abaid, urging world leaders to act now to prevent atrocities.”
- “Civilians have been subjected to siege-like conditions for 18 months, battered by relentless drone strikes as the Sudanese armed forces and the rapid support forces battle for control over areas surrounding the city.”
- “The RSF was created precisely to do this. The government in Khartoum of the previous dictator, Amr al-Bashir, created the RSF precisely to outsource the worst violence of the regime.”
Broadcast Timeline
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