The US State Department has warned that Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces are massing near El Obeid, raising fears of atrocities similar to those committed when the paramilitary group captured El Fasher last year. That assault, according to the UN, bore signs of genocide. El Obeid is a strategically important city because it links Darfur to eastern Sudan and hosts a key oil pipeline. If captured, it would allow the RSF to strengthen its grip on western Sudan and improve its military position against government forces. However, such a scenario would put civilian lives at risk, with humanitarian agencies fearing further displacement and suffering in what is already considered the world’s worst humanitarian crisis. Beyond the battlefield, the outcome could affect regional stability, aid access, and prospects for future peace negotiations.
The New York Times