UN warning: El Obeid could witness atrocities like El Fasher

9 July 2026 (PEN) The United Nations Independent Fact-Finding Mission in Sudan warned that the patterns of devastating violations against civilians, which were committed in El Fasher, are now being committed in El Obeid, North Kordofan State, and announced the launch of an urgent investigation into any alleged human rights violations or abuses.

The mission said in a statement released Wednesday that the Rapid Support Forces had carried out mass killings, systematic abductions of women and girls, and gang rapes in El Fasher.

She added that these violations provide further evidence that the atrocities committed by the warring parties in Sudan are clear indicators of genocide.

The mission explained that its report comes at a time of growing concern about the situation in El Obeid, where more than half a million residents and over 100,000 internally displaced persons are facing increasing insecurity, attacks on vital infrastructure, and restrictions affecting access to basic services.

On July 6, the Human Rights Council adopted a resolution expressing grave concern about the imminent risk of widespread atrocities by the Rapid Support Forces in El Obeid and surrounding areas.

The resolution called on the mission to conduct an urgent investigation into any alleged violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law.

The head of the mission, Mohamed Chande Othman, said that the patterns documented by the mission in El Fasher, including sieges, attacks on civilian infrastructure, restrictions on humanitarian access, and widespread violations against civilians, constitute a "stark warning" that the international community must act upon to prevent further disasters.

The mission reiterated its calls for ensuring effective accountability, including immediate cooperation and action by the International Criminal Court.

She confirmed that she would continue her investigations and would submit reports on the situation in El Obeid and the surrounding areas to the Human Rights Council and the General Assembly, in accordance with the resolution issued by the Council.