A chilling humanitarian catastrophe is unfolding in the Sudanese city of El-Obeid, where tens of thousands of civilians have vanished amid what witnesses describe as systematic violence by the notorious Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
The paramilitary group, which seized control of the strategic North Kordofan state capital in recent months, has transformed the surrounding areas into modern-day killing fields, according to harrowing accounts from survivors and satellite evidence analysed by investigators.
The Ghost City
El-Obeid, once a bustling hub of nearly 1.4 million people, now stands as a ghost city. Markets that once thrived with commerce lie deserted, schools and hospitals have been repurposed as military bases, and entire neighbourhoods show evidence of methodical destruction.
"They came house by house, taking anyone they suspected of opposing them," recounted one survivor who fled to neighbouring South Sudan. "We don't know if they're in mass graves or being held in secret detention centres. They've simply disappeared."
Pattern of Atrocities
The RSF's takeover follows a familiar pattern seen in other Sudanese cities they've captured:
- Systematic house-to-house searches targeting specific ethnic groups and perceived opponents
- Forced disappearances of community leaders, activists, and educated professionals
- Conversion of civilian infrastructure into military installations
- Restriction of humanitarian access, preventing aid organisations from documenting abuses
International Response Falters
Despite mounting evidence of crimes against humanity, the international community has struggled to respond effectively. Diplomatic efforts have stalled, and humanitarian organisations face extreme difficulties accessing conflict zones.
"The scale of what's happening in El-Obeid represents one of the largest single instances of mass disappearance in recent African history," noted Dr Amina Hassan, a Sudan researcher at the African Studies Centre. "Yet the world seems largely unaware or unwilling to act."
Broader Conflict Context
The situation in El-Obeid forms part of the wider power struggle between the RSF and the Sudanese Armed Forces that erupted into full-scale conflict in April 2023. The fighting has displaced nearly 10 million people and left millions facing acute hunger.
As the RSF consolidates its control over strategic territories including much of the Darfur region and key cities like El-Obeid, concerns grow that similar patterns of violence and disappearance are being replicated across multiple regions of Sudan.
