Clashes broke out between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) south of Al-Obeid on Friday morning, Darfur24 reported, citing sources.
The reported fighting comes amid heightened tensions around Al-Obeid, the capital of North Kordofan, where the RSF has stepped up military pressure in recent months. Reuters reported on Wednesday that the paramilitary force had renewed its assault on the strategically important city with drone and ground attacks.
Al-Obeid has remained under the control of the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), but the city has faced siege-like conditions and repeated attacks as the two sides battle for control of surrounding areas and key supply routes. The city is a major commercial and humanitarian hub linking central Sudan with Kordofan and Darfur.
The United Nations has warned of a growing risk to civilians in and around Al-Obeid. In June, UN Secretary-General António Guterres expressed concern over the deployment of substantial RSF reinforcements around the city, warning that they could signal an imminent ground offensive.
The UN human rights chief said in July that his office had documented 15 drone strikes on Al-Obeid and surrounding areas between June 6 and 28, killing at least 45 civilians and injuring 41. He said the actual toll was likely higher.
The latest clashes come as Sudan’s wider war, which began in April 2023 after fighting erupted between the army and RSF over a dispute concerning the integration of the paramilitary force into the regular military, continues to fuel a major humanitarian crisis. The fighting has displaced millions and pushed the conflict increasingly towards western Sudan, particularly Kordofan and Darfur.
