The European Union, in a statement on 3 July 2026 at the UN Human Rights Council, warned that El Obeid, the capital of North Kordofan, faces an imminent ground and air offensive by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) after more than 18 months of siege-like conditions, and urged the RSF to halt the assault immediately. The EU also called on all parties to cease hostilities and respect international humanitarian law, stressing that attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure may amount to war crimes.
The statement was delivered during an urgent debate at the 62nd session of the Human Rights Council, convened to address the deteriorating human rights situation in and around El Obeid in the context of the ongoing conflict in Sudan. The EU noted that the High Commissioner and the UN Security Council have warned of an imminent risk of mass atrocities, referencing patterns documented by the Council's Fact-Finding Mission in El Fasher and the Zamzam camp, including extrajudicial executions, ethnically targeted killings, abductions, and widespread sexual and gender-based violence. The EU urged that such atrocities must not be repeated in El Obeid.
The EU placed primary responsibility for the war and its end on the leadership of both the Sudanese Armed Forces and the RSF and their affiliated militias, as well as on external actors supplying weapons or other support, calling for an immediate cessation of such support in line with the Berlin Principles for Sudan. The EU reiterated its advocacy for expanding both the International Criminal Court (ICC) mandate and the UN arms embargo to the whole of Sudan.
The statement highlighted ongoing EU actions, including work with Quintet partners (African Union, UN, IGAD, and League of Arab States) to advance an immediate ceasefire and an inclusive, Sudanese-owned political process, building on the Joint Call adopted in Berlin. At the Sudan Conference in Berlin in April, the EU and its Member States pledged EUR 812 million, more than half of the total EUR 1.5 billion mobilised by international donors for affected civilians. The EU Special Representative for the Horn of Africa is pursuing concrete work on the protection of critical infrastructure. The EU has also agreed to expand sanctions to those who profit from the war, in addition to existing restrictive measures targeting violators and those undermining Sudan's stability. The EU reaffirmed its commitment to the sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity of Sudan.
The statement carries significant implications for stakeholders. For civilians in El Obeid and North Kordofan, the EU's call for a halt to the offensive and for humanitarian access could, if heeded, prevent mass atrocities and alleviate suffering. The Sudanese Armed Forces and RSF face increased international pressure to cease hostilities and comply with international law, with potential consequences including expanded ICC investigations and UN arms embargoes. External actors supplying weapons to either side are urged to stop, risking reputational and diplomatic costs if they continue. The EU and its Member States, having pledged substantial aid and pursued diplomatic and sanctions measures, demonstrate a commitment to ending the conflict but face the challenge of translating statements into tangible protection on the ground.