Key facts
- Thousands of displaced people are in el-Obeid, Sudan.
- Paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) are advancing on el-Obeid.
- El-Obeid is an army-controlled city.
- Warnings of potential atrocities have been issued.
- The current threat is compared to past massacres.
- The conflict is between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the RSF.
- The conflict began in April 2023.
- The conflict has caused widespread displacement and resource shortages.
Displaced populations in el-Obeid, Sudan, are under a new threat as the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) advance towards the city, which is currently under army control. The advance by the RSF raises significant concerns for the thousands of civilians who have sought refuge in el-Obeid. International bodies and humanitarian organizations have issued warnings about the potential for atrocities, drawing comparisons to past massacres that have occurred during the ongoing conflict. The Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) are reportedly in control of the city, but the RSF's approach signals a potential escalation of violence in the region. This development underscores the severe humanitarian crisis gripping Sudan, where civilian populations continue to bear the brunt of the fighting between the SAF and the RSF. The conflict, which began in April 2023, has already led to widespread displacement and a severe shortage of essential resources across the country. The situation in el-Obeid is particularly concerning due to the large number of displaced individuals already present in the city, making them highly vulnerable to any ensuing violence.