Sudan Conflict Sees UN Security Council Warn of Mass Atrocities Risk in El Obeid
The Sudan conflict has drawn fresh international attention as the UN Security Council, European Union, UN Human Rights chief and a coalition of 29 countries warn that a Rapid Support Forces build-up and offensive around El Obeid in North Kordofan risks mass atrocities against up to 500,000 civilians, including more than 100,000 displaced people, and could repeat the abuses seen in El Fasher.
International Warnings on El Obeid Offensive
The United Nations Security Council has expressed concern over reports of a substantial build-up of Rapid Support Forces troops around the North Kordofan capital of El Obeid, warning of the risk of a possible ground assault. [2] In a statement issued on Saturday, council members voiced alarm over the imminent threat of mass atrocities and called on the RSF to halt its offensive against the city. [2] The statement follows similar warnings issued by the European Union, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, and the International Coalition for Preventing Atrocity Crimes in Sudan. [2] The European Union warned that El Obeid must not be allowed to suffer the same fate as the North Darfur capital El Fasher, where in April an RSF ground offensive forced hundreds of thousands of the inhabitants to flee amid widespread reports of abuses. [2] In a statement the bloc called on the RSF to immediately halt its offensive against El Obeid and stressed the need to end the killing of civilians, violence against ethnic communities and attacks on civilian infrastructure. [2] The Coalition for Preventing Atrocity Crimes and Achieving Justice in Sudan together with 21 other countries expressed grave concern over the urgent risks of atrocities and deliberate killings in Sudan. [2] The statement submitted to the UN Human Rights Council was endorsed by coalition members Canada, France, Germany, Ireland, the Netherlands, Norway, Sierra Leone and the United Kingdom as well as Albania, Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Malta, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, New Zealand, North Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Spain and Sweden. [2]
Reported Drone Strikes and Civilian Impact
The Security Council also expressed concern over reports of drone strikes carried out by the RSF in El Obeid and the increasing use of drones by parties to the conflict across Sudan. [2] According to the coalition statement ten consecutive days of drone strikes have killed at least 50 civilians in El Obeid and North Kordofan and caused extensive damage to civilian infrastructure. [2] The statement added that widespread and credible reports of violence targeting different ethnic groups including sexual and gender-based violence were deeply alarming. [2] Members called for all violations and abuses to be investigated and for those responsible to be held accountable. [2] The coalition warned of an imminent escalation on the ground that could expose around 500,000 civilians to the risk of mass atrocities including more than 100,000 internally displaced people. [2]
UN map shows Sudan crisis situation analysis for June 1-7 2026. — Source: reliefweb
Ongoing SAF-RSF Conflict and Humanitarian Situation
Council members also expressed deep concern over the continuing violence across Sudan where the Sudanese Armed Forces and the RSF have been at war since April 2023. [2] The statement pointed to escalating fighting in the Kordofan region warning that it could further worsen an already dire humanitarian situation. [2] Sudan is facing one of the world’s largest humanitarian and displacement crises as the conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces which began in April 2023 enters its fourth year in 2026. [5] The conflict has triggered widespread civilian suffering economic collapse mass displacement and severe regional instability with humanitarian conditions continuing to deteriorate across the country. [5] Members urged all parties to cease hostilities immediately and reiterated the need for all sides to protect civilians comply with international law including international humanitarian law and honour commitments made under the Jeddah Declaration. [2]
Grave Violations Against Children
The UN Secretary-General's latest annual report on children and armed conflict has verified that 24,174 children suffered grave violations of the rights of children globally. [1] The report named governments as the main perpetrators of grave violations against children in listed countries including Sudan. [1] The findings come amid the ongoing Sudan conflict and highlight the impact of hostilities on the youngest civilians in affected regions. [1] The report covers countries such as Afghanistan Burkina Faso Cameroon Central African Republic Chad Colombia Democratic Republic of the Congo Ethiopia Haiti Lebanon Libya Mali Mozambique Myanmar Niger Nigeria occupied Palestinian territory Somalia South Sudan Sudan Syrian Arab Republic Ukraine and Yemen. [1]
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Calls for Accountability, Access and Non-Interference
The council stressed the need for all parties to facilitate safe and unhindered humanitarian access and to allow civilians safe passage in accordance with international law. [2] The coalition statement urged all parties to de-escalate immediately and fully comply with international humanitarian law. [2] It also stressed the need to allow civilians to leave freely and safely and to ensure humanitarian agencies have unrestricted access to those in need backed by credible security guarantees. [2] The signatories further called on all states to exert maximum pressure on the RSF the SAF and their allies to prevent atrocities and protect civilians. [2] The council urged all UN member states to refrain from external interference that could fuel conflict and instability to support efforts towards a lasting peace to comply with international law and to implement relevant Security Council resolutions including Resolution 2791 (2025). [2] The council reaffirmed its commitment to Sudan's sovereignty independence unity and territorial integrity and reiterated its rejection of any parallel governing authority in areas under RSF control. [2]
UN Human Rights Chief Urges Action on Sudan Conflict
Volker Türk the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights warned that a looming assault on El Obeid carries a serious risk of international crimes and threatens to deepen the catastrophic impact of the conflict on civilians. [2] "States with influence have a responsibility to use it now" he said "to stop this madness before it is too late." [2] The joint calls from multiple international bodies underscore the urgency of preventing further escalation in the Sudan conflict while addressing documented patterns of harm to civilians and infrastructure.
What to watch next: Observers will monitor whether the RSF halts its offensive around El Obeid and whether all parties facilitate unhindered humanitarian access and safe civilian passage as repeatedly urged by the UN Security Council the European Union and the coalition of countries.
