The United Nations demanded that Sudan’s paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) halt preparations for what it described as an imminent military push toward El-Obeid, a key city in North Kordofan, amid fears of widespread civilian suffering. UN officials say recent weeks have seen a sharp rise in troop concentrations around the city, alongside drone strikes and sustained artillery fire.

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk issued the warning while condemning what he described as a dangerous escalation. He stressed that the pattern of violence risked repeating earlier tragedies seen elsewhere in Sudan and appealed for immediate international pressure to prevent further deterioration.

"The states with influence have the duty to exercise it now to stop this madness in its tracks," Türk said.

El-Obeid, the administrative hub of North Kordofan, lies along a strategic corridor connecting western areas under RSF influence with eastern regions controlled by the Sudanese army. For months, the city has been effectively hemmed in, with humanitarian conditions deteriorating under what UN observers describe as a tightening siege.

Türk warned that an assault on the city could result in serious violations of international law, adding that the world had witnessed similar situations before.

The conflict between the RSF and the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) broke out in April 2023 and has left tens of thousands dead while displacing more than 11 million people. UN assessments suggest that around 500,000 civilians could be exposed to extreme risk if the anticipated offensive goes ahead.

More than two dozen countries, including major Western allies, have also expressed alarm, warning of potential atrocities and calling for an immediate halt to the planned escalation.