The Human Rights Council approves the formation of an urgent commission of inquiry into violations in Al-Abyad.

6 July 2026 (PEN) The UN Human Rights Council on Monday adopted a British proposal condemning the escalating violence by the Rapid Support Forces in the city of El Obeid, and decided to form an urgent commission of inquiry into the ongoing violations there.

Britain chaired the session, which reviewed widespread atrocities reminiscent of those that occurred in North Darfur last year.

The UK's ambassador for human rights, Eleanor Saunders, told the council: "These atrocities must not be repeated."

The developments came after an emergency session held by the Human Rights Council in Geneva last Friday, at the request of Britain and supported by four countries, to discuss the situation in El Obeid amid military buildup and fears that it could become a humanitarian disaster hotspot.

The session warned of the risk of atrocities affecting some 500,000 civilians living in "siege-like" conditions, as drone attacks intensify.

Since April 2023, Sudan has been witnessing an armed conflict between the army and the Rapid Support Forces, which has resulted in the killing of thousands and the displacement of about 16 million people internally and externally, amid repeated UN warnings of deteriorating humanitarian conditions and escalating violations against civilians.