Residents warn El-Obeid siege by paramilitary forces risks new Darfur-style catastrophe

El-Obeid, Sudan — Residents of El-Obeid, a strategic city in central Sudan, warned on Friday that they can no longer endure the siege imposed by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), as the United Nations cautioned that thousands of civilians face grave danger if fighting escalates. The city, already deprived of electricity, fuel, and potable water, is bracing for an imminent assault, with humanitarian organisations and UN officials describing the situation as a tinderbox that could trigger another Darfur-style catastrophe.

Speaking to *Le Monde*, residents described a city on the brink, where the absence of basic services has left families vulnerable and desperate. “We can no longer hold on much longer,” one resident said, echoing the sentiments of others trapped in the besieged urban centre. The RSF, locked in a brutal war with Sudan’s regular army, has encircled El-Obeid, cutting off supply routes and subjecting the population to relentless pressure.

The United Nations special envoy Pekka Haavisto issued a stark warning on Thursday, highlighting the escalation of hostilities around El-Obeid. Frequent drone strikes and severe disruptions to humanitarian operations have compounded the crisis, with the envoy noting that the situation bears “similarities to previous crises in Darfur.” Haavisto stressed that thousands of civilians could face grave danger if the fighting intensifies further.

The humanitarian fallout is already spreading. On Tuesday, over 1,430 people fled five villages in North Darfur’s Umbro locality in a single day, according to the UN migration agency. Many displaced individuals moved within Sudan, while others crossed into Chad, as RSF attacks continue to destabilise the region. The exodus underscores the broader regional impact of the conflict, which has displaced tens of thousands since escalating earlier this year.

Thirty-eight humanitarian organisations had already warned on Thursday of an imminent RSF offensive in El-Obeid, while the UN envoy’s assessment on the same day confirmed the gravity of the threat. The convergence of these warnings, alongside the testimonies of trapped residents, paints a picture of a city teetering on the edge of a humanitarian disaster. With no immediate signs of de-escalation, the international community faces mounting pressure to intervene and prevent another cycle of violence in Sudan’s embattled Darfur region.