Story perspectives

US, UN Warn RSF Massing Threatens 500,000 El Obeid Civilians

6/24/2026

Summary

State Department Warns

U.S. State Department warned Rapid Support Forces are massing around El Obeid, raising the risk of mass atrocities.
Thomas Pigott said the buildup could increase attacks on civilians and infrastructure and worsen Sudan’s humanitarian crisis.
The United Nations (UN) warned an assault could repeat the October 2025 Al-Fasher attack, said 500,000 civilians in El Obeid face atrocity risk, reported 50 drone-strike deaths, and estimated 25 million Sudanese need aid.

Summary

Norway Demands Probe

Norway’s ambassador Tormod Endresen presented a 28-nation coalition statement demanding probes of Rapid Support Forces (RSF) drone strikes and sexual violence.
The UN declared the 2023 Jeddah Declaration, meant to protect civilians, has collapsed.
The Security Council warned that weaponised drone use breaches humanitarian law and urged states to stop arming the RSF.
Kenya and Uganda could face a large influx of Sudanese refugees if El Obeid falls, straining aid systems.

History

Historical Context

After the UN Security Council adopted Resolution 2122 on 18 October 2013, the council later addressed international aerial violence in Africa, notably the Darfur situation in 2014. Today, Norway’s ambassador Tormod Endresen and a 28-nation coalition press the Rapid Support Forces in Sudan to investigate similar drone strikes, echoing earlier ongoing enforcement gaps.

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State Department Warns

U.S. State Department warned Rapid Support Forces are massing around El Obeid, raising the risk of mass atrocities.
Thomas Pigott said the buildup could increase attacks on civilians and infrastructure and worsen Sudan’s humanitarian crisis.
The United Nations (UN) warned an assault could repeat the October 2025 Al-Fasher attack, said 500,000 civilians in El Obeid face atrocity risk, reported 50 drone-strike deaths, and estimated 25 million Sudanese need aid.

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