Britain Warns RSF Siege Conditions in Sudan's Al-Obeid as UN Human Rights Council Urgent Debate Set

The UN Human Rights Council decided to hold an urgent debate on the situation in Sudan's al-Obeid later this week after Britain's envoy warned of the risk of large-scale atrocities.

Britain's Human Rights Ambassador Eleanor Sanders described "siege-like conditions" that have left thousands trapped and cut off from humanitarian aid amid intensifying drone strikes.

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Sanders told the Geneva-based council, "Up to 500,000 civilians are now at risk of large-scale atrocities...We cannot allow a repeat of preventable atrocities," and the request was backed by Germany, Ireland, Norway and the Netherlands.

The debate will take place on July 3, while Sudan's delegation declined to address the council on Tuesday.

Sanders said London planned to table a motion before the 47-member council on Friday, without giving details.

The UN warnings centered on reports that Sudan's paramilitary Rapid Support Forces and allies are massing forces around the city of al-Obeid, which could result in an escalation of the conflict.

In Geneva, UN high commissioner for human rights Volker Türk said, "We have seen this playbook before. We know where it led then, and cannot now allow a repeat of the preventable atrocities we documented in El Fasher and Zamzam IDP camp in North Darfur last year," as the UN Human Rights Office warned on 18 June that an "imminent offensive risked fresh commission of serious international crimes".

Al-Shabaka at-Tawasol al-Ikhbariyya

The UN estimates some 500,000 civilians in El Obeid are at risk, and the city has endured 18 months of "siege-like conditions" imposed by the Rapid Support Forces.

In a separate account, the Sudanese rights group Emergency Lawyers said Rapid Support Forces drone attacks struck areas of El Obeid for a second day, killing 23 people and wounding 19 others.

The group said the first attack on Wednesday killed 5 civilians and injured 12 others, and it later targeted a gathering at the Dalil Cemetery during the funeral, killing 4 civilians and wounding 7 more.

The UN debate is tied to calls for investigation and accountability, with a draft UN Human Rights Council resolution considering an urgent mandate for the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission for Sudan to investigate alleged violations around El Obeid.

The draft resolution seen by Radio Dabanga would also condemn what it describes as the "use of starvation as a method of warfare" and says the city has endured conditions resembling a siege for nearly 18 months.

Radio Dabanga reported that the urgent debate on Friday, July 3, would be convened following an official request submitted on Monday, 29 June 2026 by Germany, Ireland, the Netherlands, Norway and the United Kingdom.

In parallel, the UK government said Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper warned that "Al Obeid is on the cusp of witnessing atrocities that would deepen the wounds that Sudan suffered in El Fasher."

The UK and its allies also said drone strikes have continued over the past 24 hours and that attacks on fuel facilities and power grid lines have caused essential services to be cut for more than 500,000 people, including 200,000 internally displaced persons.