UN Warns RSF Threatens Siege of El-Obeid

The United Nations has warned that Sudan’s strategic city of El-Obeid could soon come under siege as the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) continue to reinforce their positions around the North Kordofan state capital.

UN officials said the situation raises fears of a repeat of events in Al Fasher, where a prolonged RSF blockade ended with the city’s capture. The UN previously said the October assault on Al Fasher bore “the hallmarks of genocide.”

El-Obeid is home to about 500,000 residents and nearly 100,000 people displaced by fighting in other parts of Sudan. The city has also come under some of its heaviest RSF attacks since the conflict began.

Mohamed Refaat of the International Organization for Migration said El-Obeid is moving closer to a complete siege, warning that civilians could soon be unable to enter or leave the city.

He said conditions could deteriorate rapidly without a significant increase in humanitarian assistance, noting that civilians in Al Fasher reportedly survived on animal feed during an 18-month blockade.

The Sudanese army broke an earlier RSF siege of El-Obeid in February last year but has since been attempting to prevent the paramilitary group from re-establishing positions around the city.

Recent attacks have damaged the city’s main power station and fuel depots, causing widespread electricity outages and disrupting water supplies after pumping stations were forced out of service.

El-Obeid is a strategic transport and commercial hub linking army-controlled areas in central and eastern Sudan. It also hosts an infantry division, an air base, a major oil pipeline and one of the country’s largest gum arabic trading centres. Independent verification of developments in the city remains limited because of the ongoing fighting.

SOURCE: AFP