The city of el-Obeid, a key front line in Sudan's ongoing civil war, has become the site of escalating drone strikes, with the United Nations human rights chief warning of an unfolding human rights catastrophe. The city, capital of North Kordofan state and home to approximately 500,000 people, is currently under army control but has faced persistent attacks from the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
In June alone, 27 drone strikes hit el-Obeid, marking the highest monthly total since the conflict began, according to violence monitoring group Acled. These attacks have resulted in civilian deaths and injuries. UN human rights chief Volker Turk reported that at least 45 people were killed and 41 injured in 15 drone strikes between June 6 and June 28.
Sarah, a 27-year-old university student who spoke to the BBC under a pseudonym for her safety, described surviving a drone strike at a crowded fuel station. "In front of us there were injured people, blood, burnt cars, and smashed cars," she said. She sustained shrapnel injuries to her leg and hand from a second missile that struck after the initial attack.
El-Obeid has been described as being under "siege-like conditions" for the past 18 months. During this period, summary executions, abductions, torture, and sexual violence have been reported along routes used by those fleeing the conflict. "The signs from el-Obeid are clear and unmistakable: Another human rights catastrophe is unfolding in Sudan," Turk stated in a recent address to the UN Human Rights Council.
The city's strategic importance lies in its location between RSF-controlled western Sudan and the army-controlled east. Nathaniel Raymond, executive director of Yale University's Humanitarian Research Lab, explained that controlling el-Obeid is crucial for controlling the road to the capital, Khartoum, and its twin city, Omdurman. This makes the city a vital point for the army to defend.
The conflict between the Sudanese army and the RSF has intensified in recent months, with intense fighting reported in several key areas, including el-Obeid. The ongoing violence continues to exact a heavy toll on the civilian population, exacerbating an already dire humanitarian situation.