Sudan: Fears of atrocities as RSF surrounds key city
Key takeaways
- As Sudan's paramilitary Rapid Support Forces mass around the strategic city of el-Obeid, fears are growing of atrocities similar to those seen in Darfur's el-Fasher.
- https://p.dw.com/p/5G3l3Troops of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces are deployed around the strategic city of el-Obeid, which raises alarm of an imminent attack Image: AP Photo/picture alliance Advertisement.
- The assumption is largely that the RSF is preparing a ground offensive to try to retake the city, which has been under the control of the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) since February 2025.
Why this matters: an international story with cross-border implications worth tracking.
As Sudan's paramilitary Rapid Support Forces mass around the strategic city of el-Obeid, fears are growing of atrocities similar to those seen in Darfur's el-Fasher. Could sanctions still prevent bloodshed?
https://p.dw.com/p/5G3l3Troops of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces are deployed around the strategic city of el-Obeid, which raises alarm of an imminent attack Image: AP Photo/picture alliance Advertisement. The next major front line in Sudan's war is most likely the strategically important city of el-Obeid in North Kordofan. This week, the UN Security Council, several European countries and the United States flagged "the imminent risk of mass atrocities" as increasing numbers of paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) troops are deployed around the city.
The assumption is largely that the RSF is preparing a ground offensive to try to retake the city, which has been under the control of the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) since February 2025.