The UK and a group of European allies have demanded an immediate halt to escalating violence in El Obeid, warning that the Sudanese city is “on the precipice of an atrocity” amid continued attacks on civilian infrastructure.
In a joint statement released on Tuesday, the UK, alongside France, Germany, the Netherlands, Ireland, Italy and Norway, expressed deep concern about the continued targeting of key civilian sites in and around El Obeid by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in drone strikes.
It said attacks in the last 24 hours have struck major supply routes across North Kordofan and White Nile states, as well as fuel stations and electricity lines. The damage has cut access to essential services for more than 500,000 people, including 200,000 internally displaced civilians.
The fighting has already caused significant civilian casualties and raised fears of a wider escalation in the conflict.
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‘We cannot let this happen again’
UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper drew parallels with violence in Al Fasher, where RSF forces have been accused of widespread abuses.
“Last year, the world watched in horror as the Rapid Support Forces raped, pillaged, and murdered their way through Al Fasher – leaving nothing but devastation and death in their wake. This cannot be repeated,” she said.
