Pakistan sounds alarm over imminent atrocities in strategic Sudanese city, El Obeid

UNITED NATIONS, Jun 28 (APP):As military pressure builds in and around the Sudanese city of El Obeid, Pakistan has called for a global action to prevent atrocities, given the paramilitary group, Rapid Support Forces’ record of grave abuses in Darfur in 2004 as also in other parts of Sudan.

“Peace and stability of Sudan and the wider region are intertwined– that is why bringing stability to (it) should be taken as a collective responsibility,” Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, permanent representative of Pakistan to the United Nations, told the UN Security Council, which debated the situation in Sudan on Friday.

The current escalation in El Obeid is characterized by increased deployment of substantial military reinforcements around the city by RSF, who began warring with the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) in April 2023.

Concerns of a civil war were expressed to the Council several months later, and the war has now entered its fourth year.

More recently, the International Criminal Court has warned of an ongoing pattern of large-scale crimes against humanity across the Darfur region.  The Council itself has issued two press statements in 2026 concerning continued violence in Sudan — the first focusing on the Kordofan region and the second, issued just six days ago, on the situation in El Obeid.

In his remarks, the Pakistani envoy strongly condemned attacks by the RSF against civilians and civilian objects, including schools, hospitals, markets, places of worship and other facilities that are indispensable to civilian life, with the situation around El Obeid “particularly alarming”. given the militia’s record of grave abuses in Darfur and other parts of Sudan, including indiscriminate killings, ethnic violence, sexual violence and forced displacement.

“These patterns underscore the imminent risk of mass atrocities,” Ambassador Asim Ahmad said.

The RSF, he said,  must halt its assault on El Obeid, refrain from further escalation, comply fully with international humanitarian law, and ensure the protection of civilians.

“The growing use of drones and advanced weaponry is another matter of great concern as this is increasing civilian casualties, disrupting humanitarian operations and risking a wider escalation,” the Pakistani envoy told the 15-member Council.

“We call for safe, rapid, sustained and unhindered humanitarian access to those in need, and stress that attacks on humanitarian personnel, convoys, warehouses and assets are indefensible and must cease.”

Sudan’s sovereignty, unity, territorial integrity and national institutions must be preserved,” Ambassador Asim Ahmad stressed.

“The Council and the international community should avoid any action, language or approach that weakens Sudan’s national institutions or creates space for parallel military or political structures,” he said. .

Pakistan, he said,  welcomes the efforts of the Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy and encourages continued engagement to reduce tensions, facilitate humanitarian arrangements, and support an inclusive Sudanese-owned and Sudanese-led political process.

“There is obviously no military solution,” Ambassador Asim Ahmad added.

Earlier, UN Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacekeeping Affairs Rosemary DiCarlo briefed the Security Council on latest developments in the ongoing war between the SAF and former allies the RSF.

Over the past two weeks, drone attacks by the parties have increased significantly in El Obeid, while the RSF have expanded their presence in and around the city.

She recalled that UN human rights chief Volker Turk issued a stark warning that an offensive would lead to “impending human rights disaster”.

Escalation would put hundreds of thousands of civilians at immediate risk of large-scale violence, she said, adding that a full-scale battle would trigger new displacement to areas that were already overstretched.

“Once again, we call for restraint from all parties and urge them to take all necessary measures to respect and protect civilians,” she said.

“The window to avert a wider escalation in El Obeid is rapidly narrowing.”

Beyond El Obeid, the conflict continues across multiple fronts, Ms.Dicarlo said.

The wider Kordofan region remains the epicentre, with intensified fighting around Dilling, Kadugli and Babanusa as the parties contest strategic areas. Recent drone strikes on bridges and transport corridors across Darfur and Kordofan have disrupted humanitarian routes and left communities isolated.

The security situation also remains volatile in White Nile and Blue Nile states with continued clashes in Kurmuk, Geissan and Bau localities. Meanwhile, the human cost is mounting.