Sudan: El-Obeid civilians trapped under RSF siege
The UN has raised the alarm over a worsening humanitarian crisis in El-Obeid, a city besieged by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Sudan, where many civilians are dying amid relentless attacks. FRANCE
The UN has raised the alarm over a worsening humanitarian crisis in El-Obeid, a city besieged by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Sudan, where many c
Read Full Story at France 24 →Why This Matters
The siege of El-Obeid exposes the escalating fragmentation of Sudan’s post-coup power struggle into localized catastrophes, where urban centers become battlegrounds for rival factions. As civilians bear the brunt of a protracted conflict now entering its third year, the crisis underscores the failure of international diplomacy to enforce ceasefires or protect non-combatants in a war defined by impunity.
Background Context
El-Obeid, a strategic hub in North Kordofan, has long been a flashpoint due to its position between the capital and Darfur, making it a prize for the RSF’s expansion. The city’s siege mirrors a broader pattern where the RSF—once a Janjaweed militia—has weaponized blockades to starve out rivals, while the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) struggle to mount effective counteroffensives amid logistical collapse.
What Happens Next
The coming weeks will likely see either a negotiated evacuation of civilians or a further tightening of the siege, with the RSF’s recent gains in Darfur raising the stakes for control over supply routes. International actors, including the African Union, face mounting pressure to broker safe corridors, but their leverage is eroded by waning global attention and the SAF’s inability to reverse battlefield losses.
Bigger Picture
This siege reflects a broader regional shift where irregular forces like the RSF are rewriting the rules of urban warfare, exploiting vacuums left by collapsed state institutions. The humanitarian fallout—already the world’s largest displacement crisis—risks deepening as warlords and militias prioritize territorial dominance over ceasefires, signaling a new phase of prolonged, decentralized conflict in the Sahel.
