Inside the UAE-backed RSF siege of Sudan's el-Obeid

AI Summary

The UAE-backed Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have been conducting a siege and drone strikes on el-Obeid, Sudan, resulting in substantial civilian suffering and infrastructure damage. The city, strategically vital and densely populated with refugees, faces intense conflict between RSF and Sudanese Armed Forces, with damage to critical facilities and increased hardship for residents.

Inside the UAE-backed RSF siege of Sudan's el-Obeid Oscar Rickett on Fri, 07/03/2026 - 14:34 'The suffering endured by the citizens of el-Obeid due to the war is beyond comprehension,' one resident says, after weeks of drone strikes The aftermath of a drone strike on el-Obeid, Sudan, targeting a gas station in the city centre on 21 June 2026, and resulting in civilian casualties (MEE) Off On Friday morning, Abdullah, a lawyer in the Sudanese city of el-Obeid, had a moment of peace to reflect on two weeks of drone strikes and over three years of war. “The suffering endured by the citizens of el-Obeid due to the war is beyond comprehension,” he told Middle East Eye.  “Loss of life, hunger, and insecurity perfectly reflect the catastrophes caused by the conflict between the army and the Rapid Support Forces,” he said.  “These forces continue to bombard civilians, vital and strategic centres, service facilities, and the very foundations of life, aiming to displace citizens and force them from their lands and cities.”  As Abdullah and other residents of North Kordofan’s capital spoke to MEE, the UN Human Rights Council was holding an urgent debate on the situation in Sudan, with the paramilitary RSF, which is backed by the United Arab Emirates, besieging el-Obeid from the west, north and south. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); People in the strategically vital city, which sits at the intersection of several roads connecting the capital Khartoum to Kordofan and Darfur, the RSF’s stronghold in western Sudan, have lived with the fear of an RSF takeover for much of the war. Almost 600,000 people are now living in el-Obeid, including more than 105,000 who have sought refuge in the city after fleeing violence and famine elsewhere. Shortly after the war between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the RSF began in April 2023, el-Obeid became a contested site, with the SAF’s 5th Infantry Division continuing to maintain its headquarters in the city. 'Everyone here knows that the UAE supports the RSF' - Abdullah, lawyer in el-Obeid In the last three weeks, the RSF, whose fighters are present in the surrounding countryside and in the town of Barah, about 30km north of el-Obeid, has launched a wave of intense drone strikes targeting petrol stations and oil tankers. The main electricity substation, water facilities, the main market and fuel depots have all been hit. Civilians have been killed and injured. The price of basic goods has shot up.  Satellite imagery analysed by Yale’s Humanitarian Research Lab (HRL) has shown visible damage “consistent with intentional bombardment of civilian infrastructure for the sustainment of life”. Between 25 May and 25 June, “at least eight gas stations in el-Obeid have sustained targeted damage consistent with bombardment”, the HRL said in a report earlier this week. The satellite imagery analysis has also shown that the Sudanese army has established at least 14 checkpoints and a 51-kilometre network of defensive berms and trenches around el-Obeid.  🚨New Report 🚨 @HRL_YaleSPH confirms damage to power stations and gas stations that threaten El Obeid's ability to produce clean water visible in recent satellite imagery. 700 new IDP tents are visible in a 1-month period in El Obeid's main IDP Camp. #KeepEyesOnSudan… pic.twitter.com/YwvZn8djBO — Humanitarian Research Lab (HRL) at YSPH (@HRL_YaleSPH) June 30, 2026 International powers, including the UK and US, have issued dire warnings about the situation in North Kordofan, but have not publicly called out the role played by the UAE in supporting and supplying the RSF, which is widely accused of committing genocide across Darfur, where it has massacred tens of thousands of civilians. The Emirati foreign ministry did not respond to a request for comment. The UAE continues to deny backing the RSF. “Everyone here knows that the UAE supports the RSF,” Abdullah said, of how the people of el-Obeid view the situation. RSF drone strikes hit vital infrastructure On 18 June, RSF drones targeted al-Abyad power substation, which serves as the primary electricity hub for el-Obeid. The bombing caused significant damage and resulted in power outages across the city. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); “This blackout exacerbated existing crises, disrupting water supplies and forcing many hospitals to shut down,” Abdullah said. “City residents are facing severe water shortages due to the complete cessation of public water sources. The city is now reliant on internal wells and water tankers transporting water from outside the city.”  People queue for drinking water in el-Obeid, Sudan, 22 June 2026 (MEE) Abdullah said that until the middle of this week, RSF drones were attacking the city at a rate of two to six strikes per day. “They targeted vital centres and the necessities of life in the city: the army command, combat vehicles, fuel tankers, drinking wa