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On June 18, 2026, the United Nations issued its most urgent warning yet on Sudan: the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) are preparing an imminent ground offensive on El-Obeid, capital of North Kordofan, and the city's 500,000 civilians are at risk of large-scale atrocities. Here is a detailed account of the UN's response, the military buildup on the ground, and what is at stake.

UN's Urgent Warning: 'Stop This Madness'

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk directly demanded the RSF abandon its planned assault. 'Stop this madness,' he said, warning the offensive carries the risk of 'serious international crimes' and would deepen an already catastrophic humanitarian crisis .

Secretary-General António Guterres separately expressed deep concern, saying he is 'particularly alarmed' by reports of the RSF deploying substantial military reinforcements around the city . The UN called on the RSF to halt preparations for the 'imminent offensive' immediately .

Reported Military Build-up and Drone Strikes

• Troop concentrations: UN officials confirm a sharp rise in RSF troop concentrations and the positioning of heavy weapons around El-Obeid in recent weeks, signaling preparations for a major ground push .
• Drone strikes: A series of drone assaults that began on June 10, 2026, have reportedly killed at least 30 people in El-Obeid . One attack targeted a funeral procession at a cemetery, killing at least four mourners . The frequency of drone attacks across Sudan has been escalating .
• Siege status: As of February 2026, El-Obeid was already besieged from three sides by the RSF, with the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) attempting to maintain a presence in and around the city .

Civilian Risk: 500,000 People in the Crosshairs

The UN warns that a siege of El-Obeid could lead to a repeat of the large-scale atrocities seen in El-Fasher, North Darfur, which fell to the RSF in late October 2025 after an 18-month siege . In El-Fasher, the UN concluded that actions 'bore the hallmarks of genocide' .

A coalition of 29 nations at the Human Rights Council warned that 500,000 civilians are at risk of large-scale atrocities in El-Obeid . In November 2025, Amnesty International reported that at least 40 people were killed in a single drone attack outside El-Obeid, and civilians trapped in the city must be allowed to leave safely .

29-Country Coalition Demands Action at the Human Rights Council

On June 18, 2026, a coalition of 29 nations issued a joint warning at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, expressing 'profound concern about imminent threats of atrocities and intentional killings' against civilians in El-Obeid . The declaration, led by Norway, warned that the RSF's military build-up signals an impending ground offensive and called on all nations to exert maximum pressure on both the RSF and its adversaries .

UN Secretary-General's Diplomatic Engagement with Hemedti

The UN has engaged directly with RSF leader General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo ('Hemedti') at various levels:

• In November 2025, UN humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher spoke directly with Hemedti, pressing him and local RSF representatives for 'complete unhindered access, safe passage' for humanitarian aid, and an end to atrocities .
• In April 2026, Hemedti publicly expressed willingness to end the civil war, participate in peace negotiations, and open RSF-controlled territory to UN-supervised humanitarian access . However, the current military buildup around El-Obeid directly contradicts those stated intentions.
• On June 19, 2026, UN Personal Envoy for Sudan Pekka Haavisto spoke with Hemedti specifically to underscore the need to de-escalate the situation in the El-Obeid area .

Broader Context: War Since April 2023 and the Siege of El-Obeid

• Sudan's war between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the RSF erupted in April 2023 and has killed tens of thousands and displaced more than 11 million people .
• El-Obeid is a strategic crossroads city linking Darfur, Kordofan, and Khartoum. It has been under varying degrees of RSF encirclement for well over a year, with the siege tightening from three sides by early 2026 . The city serves as a key logistical hub for SAF operations in the Kordofan region .
• In late October 2025, the RSF seized El-Fasher, capital of North Darfur, following an 18-month siege, accompanied by reports of mass killings, sexual violence, and forced displacement . The UN fears El-Obeid could be next .
• UN Security Council briefings have repeatedly warned that the warring parties appear 'unrelenting' in their pursuit of military objectives, with a growing risk of regional spillover .