The city of el-Obeid in Sudan’s North Kordofan region has become a major refuge for displaced civilians fleeing the ongoing civil war, with satellite imagery showing the displacement camp expanding significantly since March. The International Organization for Migration reports that the facility has become a critical shelter for those escaping violence in surrounding areas, with dozens of new arrivals documented daily. However, the influx has strained resources dramatically, with the UN estimating that more than 83,000 civilians have fled to the city and warning that nearly 400,000 people in the vicinity now face food shortages.
The paramilitary Rapid Support Forces have intensified pressure on el-Obeid through sustained military operations, including drone strikes that peaked in June according to the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data monitoring group. The RSF has targeted critical infrastructure including fuel stations, power facilities, and supply warehouses, while also cutting off supply routes into the city in what UN officials describe as a “functional siege.” Aid organizations report that humanitarian convoys and supply flights have been repeatedly targeted, though recent reductions in strike frequency have allowed some aid distribution and power restoration to resume.
Both international organizations and governments have issued warnings that the RSF may be preparing a major assault on the city, raising concerns about potential mass atrocities similar to those documented during the paramilitary’s takeover of el-Fasher last October. Verified video footage shows RSF fighters and commanders near the city vowing to “liberate” el-Obeid, with recent positioning placing forces within 40 kilometers of the city. Military satellite imagery indicates the Sudanese army is constructing defensive earthworks around el-Obeid, contrasting with the RSF’s siege fortifications elsewhere.
Analysts characterize the city as a critical strategic juncture in the conflict, connecting RSF-controlled western territories with military-held central regions. The conflict has also created internal tensions within el-Obeid, with displaced populations facing suspicion from local residents over concerns about RSF infiltration. International bodies have called on external actors to cease providing armed, logistical, or financial support to combatants, with particular attention directed at alleged support for the RSF.
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