Sudan: ‘El Obeid must not become the next crime scene’, UN investigators warn

The mission found “genocide pathway indicators” in a report released in February. The new report builds on previous findings by providing additional evidence of sexual violence, enforced disappearances, detentions and mass killings.

“The patterns we documented at El Fasher – incl sieges, attacks on civilian infrastructure, restrictions on humanitarian access, and widespread violations against civilians – are stark warnings,” said Mohamed Chande Othman, UN Chair Fact Finding Mission to Sudan.

“The international community must heed these lessons and act to prevent further disasters.”

Cost of war

Two years after the war between the Sudanese military government’s Armed Forces (SAF) and the RSF, conflict has occurred. killed at least 59,000 people and displaced at least 14 million more.

With 33.7 million people in need of humanitarian assistance and access to those in need severely restricted, the UN considers Sudan the country most in need the world’s worst humanitarian crisis.

That Human Rights Council-designated investigators warn that the RSF is currently implementing the tactics used in El Fasher in the vicinity of El Obeid, where its forces have surrounded the city, attacking critical infrastructure and limiting access to essential services.

Following a July 6 resolution adopted by the UN Human Rights Council, the mission will investigate alleged violations and abuses of international human rights and humanitarian law in El Obeid.

Alarm increases

El Obeid, the capital of North Kordofan state, is currently under SAF control, but the city has faced “siege-like conditions” for 18 months, UN Human Rights Chair Turkish Volker said on July 3.

The situation in El Obeid could worsen further, as attacks on critical infrastructure such as power plants have caused power outages, disrupted water supplies and hampered hospitals’ ability to operate.

In three weeks in June, the UN verified 15 drone strikes that killed at least 45 civilians in El Obeid and the surrounding area.

In response to the situation in El Obeid, Türk called for a series of measures to prevent further atrocities and a recurrence of El Fasher, including urgent measures. Security Council action, pause in hostilities to allow humanitarian assistance and cooperation by International Criminal Court (ICC).

Lessons from El Fasher

When they took control of El Fasher in October after an 18-month siege, RSF forces succeeded in capturing it door to door executionidentity-based targeting, drone bombing and indiscriminate shooting, killing more than 6,000 people in three days.

Before the RSF took over the city, they spent months systematically cutting off civilians’ access to food, water, medical supplies and humanitarian aid.according to a February Fact-Finding Mission report.

The mission noted that the UN repeatedly warned about the risk of atrocities in El Fasher before the city fell, but these warnings were not heeded.

Now, investigators are raising awareness of El Obeid to encourage quick action to prevent further casualties.

“At a time when serious concerns are emerging regarding the risks faced by civilians in El Obeid, the findings from El Fasher underscore the need for urgent protective measures before more lives are lost,” said expert mission member Joy Ngozi Ezeilo.

“The international community still has a chance to prevent further atrocity crimes,” said mission member expert Mona Rishmawi. “El Obeid must not be the next crime scene.”