Sudan paramilitary masses near key city; Darfur-style attacks feared

Sudan’s paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) are gathering around the strategic city of el-Obeid, raising fears of a new wave of mass atrocities similar to those seen in Darfur’s el-Fasher. The RSF, a powerful armed group, has previously been accused of targeting civilians in the Darfur region. Now, as it surrounds el-Obeid, a key crossroads for supply routes and humanitarian aid, international monitors warn that violence could escalate quickly. The question remains whether international sanctions, already imposed on some RSF leaders, can deter further bloodshed.