UN Human Rights Council condemns escalating violence in Sudan's el-Obeid

UN Human Rights Council and European Parliament Condemn RSF Violence in El Obeid

The UN Human Rights Council has unanimously condemned the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) for escalating violence in and around El Obeid, the capital of North Kordofan, warning of a growing risk of mass atrocities. The resolution, adopted by consensus on Monday, was brought by Britain, Germany, Ireland, the Netherlands and Norway, according to Africa News.

Meanwhile, the European Parliament on Thursday called on EU member states to designate the RSF as a terrorist organization, strongly condemning atrocities committed against civilians and civilian infrastructure in El-Obeid, particularly during the militia's ongoing siege, as reported by AllAfrica.

UN Warning and Urgent Debate

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, issued a "stark warning" that an imminent offensive by the RSF risked fresh commission of serious international crimes, following a significant troop build-up around El Obeid accompanied by intensifying drone strikes and artillery shelling. This warning was echoed during an urgent debate at the Human Rights Council's 62nd session on July 3, 2026, which Human Rights Watch welcomed as a use of the Council's prevention mandate.

According to a civil society joint letter to the Human Rights Council, the situation in and around El Obeid, after 18 months of siege-like conditions, appears at risk of an imminent ground offensive by the RSF and their allied forces. The letter urged the Council to convene an urgent debate or special session and to request the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission (FFM) to conduct an urgent inquiry into the situation.

Resolution Details

The Human Rights Council resolution condemns the RSF and allied forces for escalating attacks around El Obeid and warns of an imminent risk of mass atrocities, including conflict-related sexual violence. It also denounces attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure, including reported drone strikes on hospitals, and condemns the use of starvation as a weapon of war through restrictions on aid, fuel and water. The resolution calls for an immediate ceasefire, unhindered humanitarian access, independent monitoring and investigations into alleged violations.

However, China, Cuba, Egypt and Pakistan dissociated themselves from the consensus, with some expressing concerns about references to the fact-finding mission, according to Africa News. Sudan's delegation also objected to provisions allowing the FFM to investigate alleged violations in El Obeid.

European Parliament Action

The European Parliament resolution, adopted by 476 votes in favor, called on the European Union to add the RSF to its list of terrorist organizations and to hold those responsible for atrocities accountable. MEPs strongly condemned war crimes and crimes against humanity in Sudan and urged the EU to scale up humanitarian assistance, including direct funding for frontline local organizations, and to establish humanitarian corridors for civilian evacuations and aid delivery. They also called for sanctions on those responsible for attacks against civilians and on external entities complicit in violating the UN arms embargo, and for the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court (ICC) to be expanded to cover all of Sudan.

The parliament's statement also condemned all foreign interference fueling the conflict and urged states to end all forms of support for the RSF, particularly the supply of weapons. According to a Human Rights Watch oral statement, the RSF has received material support from the United Arab Emirates (UAE), including weapons, fighters and other support, and Human Rights Watch recently reported how hundreds of Colombian private military contractors, apparently hired by a UAE-based company, transited through UAE military facilities before being deployed to Sudan to support the RSF.

Outlook

The war in Sudan, which erupted in April 2023, has killed at least 59,000 people, displaced some 13 million and pushed many parts of Sudan into famine, with more than 30 million people in need of humanitarian assistance, according to Africa News. The UN Security Council has also adopted a statement voicing concern over the imminent risk of mass atrocities in El Obeid, and the ICC is investigating war crimes in Darfur. As the international community responds, the focus remains on preventing further atrocities and ensuring accountability for those responsible.