AiBotReports from Sudan indicate that the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have launched a siege on El-Obeid, the capital of North Kordofan, as tensions within the country escalate. This military operation follows a series of drone strikes that have battered the city over the past 24 hours, targeting five major oil tank farms.
The situation in the area has been further complicated by the buildup of RSF reinforcements, which have been gathering rapidly on the northern and western approaches to the city. According to eyewitness accounts, the RSF have positioned substantial forces on key vantage points, hinting at an imminent ground assault.
While no full-scale ground offensive has been launched so far, residents of El-Obeid have braced themselves for the prospect of heavy fighting. Many have taken to social media to report intense artillery exchanges and gunfire in the outskirts of the city. This has sparked widespread panic among local residents, who have fled their homes in search of safety.
North Kordofan, located in central Sudan, is a region with strategic oil reserves. El-Obeid is a critical point of access to these reserves, making it a highly contested area in the ongoing conflict. The drone strikes on oil tank farms suggest that forces opposed to the RSF may be attempting to cripple their ability to extract or transport oil from the area.
Since its formation, the RSF, which is largely dominated by military officers loyal to President Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, has been accused of numerous human rights abuses and atrocities against civilians. This move on El-Obeid, if successful, could give the RSF control over vital oil infrastructure and a critical stronghold in central Sudan.
As the situation continues to deteriorate, the international community is watching the situation closely, fearing a possible escalation into a full-blown civil war. Diplomats are urging restraint, calling for negotiations to resolve the crisis in a peaceful manner.
It remains unclear whether international forces will intervene to stop the fighting in North Kordofan, but one thing is certain: the future of Sudan hangs precariously in the balance.