United Nations human rights chief Volker Türk has issued a “red alert” regarding the potential for atrocity crimes in and near el-Obeid, a strategic city in central Sudan. Türk urged world leaders on Friday to intensify efforts to halt the escalating violence in the country's ongoing conflict between the Sudanese army and paramilitary forces.
Speaking at the Human Rights Council in Geneva, Türk stated that the situation in el-Obeid presents “clear and unmistakable” signs that “another human rights catastrophe is unfolding in Sudan.” The U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights described the warning as a direct call to action, emphasizing, “This is not a drill. It is a red alert that needs to land on the desks of heads of state and government around the world.”
The urgent debate at the U.N.'s top human rights body was prompted by concerns from diplomats and advocacy groups about a potential new wave of atrocities targeting civilians. Türk suggested that leaders' phones should be actively engaged with solutions to prevent atrocity crimes not only in el-Obeid but also in other parts of Kordofan.
Civilians in the region have endured siege-like conditions for 18 months, reportedly battered by “relentless drone strikes” amid the ongoing battle for control of areas near the city between the army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The war, which erupted in April 2023 from long-standing tensions between the two factions, has resulted in at least 59,000 deaths, displaced approximately 13 million people, and pushed numerous areas into famine conditions. More than 30 million people are currently in need of humanitarian assistance.
In February, the Sudanese military reportedly broke a siege on el-Obeid that had persisted for over a year. Since then, the RSF has initiated multiple offensives in an attempt to re-establish control over the city from various directions. The U.N. and several countries have expressed concern over reports of RSF reinforcements surrounding el-Obeid, a city with a population of half a million in North Kordofan.
According to Türk's office, recent attacks on critical infrastructure have left the civilian population with severely limited access to food, fuel, water, healthcare services, and transportation.