Shelling kills seven civilians in Sudan’s El Obeid

June 13, 2025 (EL OBEID) – At least seven civilians, including five children from the same family, were killed on Friday when artillery shells struck the northern part of El Obeid, the capital of Sudan’s North Kordofan state, local sources said.

The sources said the bombardment by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) appeared to be in response to army shelling of RSF positions near the town of Bara, located about 50 km (30 miles) northeast of El Obeid.

Shells reportedly hit the Arafat and Al-Saliheen neighbourhoods, a vegetable market, and an industrial area.

In recent weeks, El Obeid, which the army’s 5th Infantry Division controls, has been repeatedly shelled. In response, the army has targeted RSF positions with artillery and drones, according to the sources.

The violence in the Kordofan region, which links the capital Khartoum to the vast Darfur region, has intensified as both sides build up their forces.

Last month, the RSF made rapid territorial gains in North, South, and West Kordofan after heavy fighting with the army and allied armed groups.