The United States said on Monday it was deeply concerned by reports that the Rapid Support Forces and allied fighters were surrounding el-Obeid in Sudan’s North Kordofan region, warning that any assault on the city could have catastrophic consequences for civilians.
The State Department said the RSF was “massing forces” around the city and reiterated its call for a negotiated end to the conflict.
The statement said there were “alarming indications” that “mass atrocities could be imminent,” a warning that underscored the growing alarm around the city’s siege.
It also urged the RSF and its allies to avoid any action that could endanger civilians or disrupt humanitarian assistance, saying the belligerents must comply with international humanitarian law and protect those seeking safety.
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#Sudan: In a press statement on 20 June, the members of the Security Council expressed alarm at reports of substantial military reinforcements by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) around El Obeid. They demanded the RSF immediately halt its assault on El Obeid.
— UN Political and Peacebuilding Affairs (@UNDPPA) June 22, 2026
Full statement 👇 pic.twitter.com/0DlTytczQX
A grim chapter gathers pace
The US warning comes against the backdrop of Sudan’s wider war, which has pitted the RSF against the country’s army since April 2023.
The conflict has killed tens of thousands of people and forced millions from their homes, leaving one of the world’s gravest humanitarian crises in its wake. The United Nations and other observers have already sounded alarms about the situation in Sudan, with concern now centring on whether el-Obeid could face a repeat of the violence seen elsewhere in the country.
Statement of the AU Commission Chairperson on Escalating Violence in #Sudan.
— African Union (@_AfricanUnion) June 22, 2026
The Chairperson of the African Union (AU) Commission, H.E. Mahmoud Ali Youssouf expresses deep concern over the escalating violence in and around El Obeid, North Kordofan State, and the continued… pic.twitter.com/Q1YwszbZod
Figures that chill the blood
Over the weekend, the UN Human Rights Council said 500,000 civilians in el-Obeid were at risk if the RSF launched an assault.
It also said 50 civilians had been killed in drone strikes over 10 days in el-Obeid and North Kordofan. The UN has warned that an attack on the city could mirror the October 2025 assault on el-Fasher, which UN officials said bore “hallmarks of genocide.”
The State Department said the war had taken “an intolerable toll” on Sudanese civilians and called for “safe, rapid, and unhindered humanitarian access.” For now, the focus remains on whether the RSF will move from encirclement to direct assault and whether international pressure can help prevent further escalation around a city now at the center of Sudan’s fast-deepening war.
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FAQs
Q1: Why is el-Obeid important in Sudan’s conflict?
Ans: El-Obeid is a strategic city in North Kordofan that serves as a key transport and supply hub linking several regions of Sudan.
Q2: Why has the US warned about the situation in el-Obeid?
Ans: The US says reports of RSF forces encircling the city raise fears of mass atrocities and increased risks to hundreds of thousands of civilians.
