UN envoy calls on Sudan’s paramilitaries to halt El-Obeid attack

The UN secretary-general’s special envoy for Sudan on Friday urged the leader of the country’s powerful paramilitary forces to halt any planned assault on the key city of El-Obeid, warning that an attack could worsen an already severe humanitarian crisis.

During a phone call with Rapid Support Forces (RSF) commander General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, envoy Pekka Haavisto made a “very strong appeal” to prevent further escalation, according to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres’ spokesman Stephane Dujarric.

Haavisto stressed the need for an urgent de-escalation in El-Obeid and warned against any actions that could put more civilian lives at risk, Dujarric said.

The UN said humanitarian workers are preparing for the possible displacement of large numbers of civilians from the city, with aid agencies “getting ready for the worst while hoping for the best.”

El-Obeid, located in Sudan’s Kordofan region, has been surrounded for months by the RSF, which has been fighting Sudan’s regular army since April 2023.

The UN fears a repeat of the violence seen during the RSF’s October 2025 assault on El-Fasher, which it said showed “hallmarks of genocide.”

Dujarric said Haavisto is also engaging with countries that have influence over Sudan’s rival factions in an effort to encourage negotiations and prevent an attack.

Sudan’s conflict has killed tens of thousands of people and displaced more than 11 million, triggering what the UN calls the world’s largest displacement and hunger crisis.