The ongoing conflict in Sudan has taken a devastating turn as the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a paramilitary group, launched a deadly attack on the city of el-Obeid, the capital of North Kordofan province. Local media reports indicate that at least 40 civilians were killed, with dozens more injured, during a drone strike targeting a funeral service on Monday. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has expressed grave concern over the deteriorating humanitarian situation in the region, though it did not explicitly name the perpetrators of the attack. This incident is part of a broader escalation of violence that has engulfed Sudan since the RSF and the national military began clashing in 2023, following the collapse of a democratic transition agreement. The conflict has claimed over 40,000 lives and displaced 12 million people, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Additionally, the World Food Program (WFP) reports that more than 24 million Sudanese are facing acute food insecurity, with famine conditions emerging in areas like el-Fasher and Kadugli. The RSF has been accused of committing widespread atrocities, including systematic killings, sexual violence, and attacks on healthcare workers. In a recent assault on the town of Bara, the Sudan Doctors Network reported that at least 47 people, including nine women, were killed. Survivors and satellite imagery have corroborated accounts of mass killings and human rights violations, despite the RSF’s denials. The international community continues to monitor the crisis, with humanitarian agencies warning of catastrophic consequences if the violence persists.
Sudan’s paramilitary kills at least 40 people as fighting spreads into Kordofan region
