Published on: 2026-06-18
Source: United Nations – United Nations –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
The upcoming offensive on the capital of the state of Northern Kordofan may turn into serious international crimes and threatens to further aggravate the catastrophic humanitarian crisis in the country. This was warned on Thursday by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.
Volker Türk made a statement on Sudan following reports of a significant buildup of Rapid Response Forces and their allies’ units approaching the city. The regrouping of troops is accompanied by an intensification of drone and artillery strikes.
Sudan has been engulfed in war since April 2023, when fighting broke out between the previously allied Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces. One of Africa’s largest countries has been drawn into a conflict that has led to a severe humanitarian crisis.
According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), the war has forced more than 13 million people to leave their homes, and millions more are on the brink of starvation. Meanwhile, humanitarian access remains extremely limited in a significant part of Sudan’s territory.
UN Secretary-General calls for international intervention
UN Secretary-GeneralAntónio Guterresalso spoke on Thursday through his press secretary with a statement expressing concern about the possible ground offensive.
“The Secretary-General calls on everyone who has influence on the parties to use it to prevent further bloodshed. We must not allow a repetition of the horrors of El-Obeida in El-Fashir,” the statement says.
Let us recall that, according to human rights defenders, in the town of El-Fashir in the fall of 2025, the Rapid Response Forces (RRF) committed massive human rights violations, including extrajudicial executions.
Secretary-General Guterres emphasized that humanitarian organizations continue to provide assistance throughout Cordofan, despite the deteriorating security situation. Last week, as a result of drone strikes on residential districts of El-Obeid, one of the humanitarian workers was killed.
Conditions close to a siege
Over the past two weeks, dozens of drone strikes have been carried out against al-Obeid, mainly targeting gas stations and trucks. As a result, civilians have died. Meanwhile, the residents of al-Obeid have been living under siege-like conditions for more than a year and a half.
“States that have influence must use it now to stop this madness,” said Volker Tuerk.
The Commissioner drew a direct parallel with the crimes documented in El-Fashir and the Zamzam displaced persons camp in North Darfur, warning that a similar scenario is now unfolding in North Kordofan.
Please note; this information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.