Ministers from Germany, France, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, and the United Kingdom issued a joint statement expressing deep concern over the ongoing attacks in Sudan. Despite international calls urging an end to the violence and the protection of civilians, the attacks on El Obeid reportedly continue.
Concerns were amplified by the atrocities committed in Al-Fashir last year, which drew global dismay and were classified as potential genocide crimes. The ministers emphasized on Wednesday that such events must not happen again. In recent weeks, repeated drone strikes on El Obeid have resulted in numerous civilian casualties and created an acute shortage of fuels, food, and water. The humanitarian situation is rapidly deteriorating, particularly with the approaching rainy season and the deliberate targeting of humanitarian aid workers.
The ministers demanded that the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) immediately halt its attacks and allow civilians to safely leave the region. They stressed that all conflict parties must guarantee rapid, secure, and unimpeded access for humanitarian assistance. Furthermore, they called on the RSF, the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), and their allies to de-escalate the violence and respect international humanitarian law. The international community was urged to take action to prevent further bloodshed and ensure a unified response within the UN Security Council. El Obeid, the capital of the Sudanese state of Shamal Kurdufan, was previously cited as having close to half a million residents, though its current population size remains unknown.
