Sudan Reaffirms El Obeid's Defense, Calls for International Pressure on RSF Supporters

GENEVA, July 4, 2026 - Sudanese Foreign Minister Mohieddin Salem declared that the city of El Obeid would remain under government control, while calling for increased international action to halt external support for the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) as fighting intensifies around the strategic North Kordofan capital. Addressing an urgent session of the United Nations Human Rights Council, Salem described the siege of El Obeid as a critical challenge to Sudan's stability and urged the international community to take stronger measures to stop the flow of advanced weapons reaching the RSF. The foreign minister accused the United Arab Emirates (UAE) of providing military support to the paramilitary group, including weapons, drones, and logistical assistance. The UAE has previously denied allegations of supporting the RSF. Salem also called for the RSF to be formally designated as a terrorist organization, arguing that its actions against civilians and public infrastructure meet internationally recognized definitions of terrorism. On the sidelines of the Human Rights Council session, the Sudanese foreign minister met with UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk and senior UN officials to present the government's position on the conflict and discuss the worsening humanitarian situation in Sudan. During the meetings, Salem reiterated Sudan's willingness to cooperate with United Nations human rights mechanisms and ongoing international diplomatic initiatives aimed at ending the conflict. He emphasized, however, that any future peace process should be consistent with the government's political roadmap presented to the United Nations in March 2025. According to the Sudanese government, the proposed roadmap envisions a negotiated settlement based on the dismantling of the RSF, the collection of its weapons, and the relocation of its fighters to designated assembly areas as part of a broader security arrangement. As military operations continue around El Obeid, the city remains one of the most strategically significant frontlines in Sudan's three-year conflict, with mounting humanitarian concerns for hundreds of thousands of civilians affected by the fighting.