Sudan City Faces ‘Red Alert’ as 18 Months of Siege Turns into Full-Scale Attack Threat

Sudan City Faces ‘Red Alert’ as 18 Months of Siege Turns into Full-Scale Attack Threat

A United Nations warning has put the city of El-Obeid on a “red alert” as the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) prepare for a major offensive, threatening to trigger a new wave of mass atrocities in Sudan’s expanding conflict.

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The UN Human Rights Council held an emergency session Monday over the risk of genocide in and around El-Obeid, a city in Sudan’s North Kordofan region that has endured “siege-like conditions” for the past 18 months [188226][188150]. UN rights chief Volker Turk warned that civilians in the city are facing a “human rights catastrophe” as the RSF offensive looms [188226].

The alert follows a sharp rise in drone attacks by the RSF that have hit hospitals, markets, schools, and homes, killing civilians and cutting off essential services [188150]. These attacks mirror the pattern seen before the RSF’s assault on El Fasher, which the UN has said bore the “hallmarks of genocide” [188150].

During the emergency session, several countries and UN officials called for an end to foreign military support for the RSF. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has been repeatedly accused of backing the RSF, though no country was named directly [188150]. The UN Fact-Finding Mission for Sudan is now investigating the role of external actors and the war economy fueling the conflict, with the UN High Commissioner urging closer scrutiny of “foreign players benefiting from the carnage” [188150].

UN officials are calling for a civilian protection mission, an expanded arms embargo, and broader sanctions against those responsible for war crimes [188150]. A resolution expected Monday will urge all parties to stop attacks, end foreign support, and call for a UN inquiry into the situation in El-Obeid [188150].

“The risk of further atrocities is clear,” the session concluded. “So are the steps the world must take now to stop them” [188150].

Sources

UN issues 'red alert' for Sudan city as RSF offensive looms #188226Sudan: UN Warns of Genocide Risk as Drone Attacks Ramp Up #188150

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