EU, US officials warn RSF against imminent attack on El Obeid
June 23, 2026 (KHARTOUM) – The Emergency Lawyers group revealed on Tuesday that dozens of civilians were injured in a fresh bombardment on El Obeid in North Kordofan state, while EU officials and other foreign ministers announced diplomatic moves to halt the escalating violence.
The Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have intensified drone attacks on critical infrastructure in El Obeid, targeting power plants and fuel stations. The strikes have triggered widespread power outages and disrupted drinking water supplies, coinciding with a massive buildup of RSF troops around the city.
The legal group said in a statement that an RSF drone targeted a fuel tanker near a school district, wounding dozens of civilians with shrapnel and causing severe panic among students, parents, and local residents.
The bombardment of energy infrastructure has caused a near-total blackout, cutting off water services and forcing residents into long queues for limited water sources. The targeting of fuel tankers has also paralyzed transportation, spiked essential commodity prices, and crippled the health sector.
The Emergency Lawyers condemned the systemic attacks on basic services, warning that the deliberate pressure on civilians has triggered continuous waves of displacement that amount to forced displacement.
In response to the escalation, the foreign ministers of France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, and the United Kingdom issued a joint statement expressing grave concern over the imminent assault on El Obeid.
The ministers announced that they are working closely with the UN Security Council and regional partners to ensure a unified response to protect civilians and hold perpetrators accountable.
The joint statement drew parallels to past atrocities, demanding that the international community prevent a recurrence of the events in El Fasher, North Darfur, which the United Nations classified as genocide following the RSF’s capture of the city in October 2025.
The ministers highlighted that recent drone strikes have already caused civilian casualties and severe shortages of food, water, and fuel, noting credible indicators of an impending full-scale ground assault.
An attack on El Obeid threatens the lives of 563,000 residents and 105,000 internally displaced persons in the strategic hub, which connects central Sudan to the Kordofan and Darfur regions.
The European and international coalition called on the RSF to immediately halt the attack, allow civilians to leave safely, and urged all warring parties to permit humanitarian aid access.
The ministers also condemned external interference, stating that foreign support continues to prolong the war, and called on external actors to leverage their influence to prevent further bloodshed.
The Sudanese government maintains that ending the conflict hinges on halting weapon shipments from the United Arab Emirates to the RSF, a claim Abu Dhabi continues to deny despite mounting evidence.
Meanwhile, U.S. Special Envoy for Sudan Massad Boulos stated that Washington has strongly urged the RSF leadership to halt actions that endanger civilians in and around El Obeid.
Boulos expressed deep concern on the X platform over reports of RSF mobilization, warning of the heightened risk of mass atrocities.
He also disclosed that he held a very productive meeting with the Personal Envoy of the Secretary-General for Sudan, Pekka Haavisto, regarding ongoing efforts to end the bloodshed, secure unhindered humanitarian access, and achieve a durable peace and civilian governance.
Boulos noted that they discussed the Quintet’s ongoing efforts to advance an inclusive, Sudanese-civilian-led political dialogue process. Both envoys are scheduled to address the UN Security Council this Friday, where Boulos plans to emphasize the need for international support for a humanitarian truce, a path to a permanent ceasefire, and a process for a civilian transition.
The U.S. State Department issued a formal warning to the RSF on Monday against launching an assault, following which RSF Commander Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo “Hemedti” pledged to protect civilians during a call with Boulos.
The diplomatic warnings come after 29 nations at the UN Human Rights Council jointly demanded that the RSF halt its planned offensive on El Obeid, a vital commercial and humanitarian artery for the Greater Kordofan and Darfur regions.