40 Killed in El-Obeid Funeral Attack as RSF Appears to Prepare Offensive in Kordofan, UN Says

At least 40 people were killed in an attack on a funeral in the strategic city of El-Obeid in North Kordofan, the United Nations' humanitarian office (OCHA) reported on Wednesday. OCHA said dozens more were injured but did not specify when the strike occurred or identify those responsible.

Wider context

The assault comes as Sudan's war — which has already killed tens of thousands and displaced millions — continues to spread into new areas, raising fears of an escalating humanitarian catastrophe. The paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which has been fighting the regular army since 2023, appears to have shifted its focus to Kordofan after seizing El-Fasher, the army's last major stronghold in western Darfur.

Strategic significance

El-Obeid is a logistics and command hub linking Darfur with the capital, Khartoum. Local sources cited by OCHA said the funeral attack occurred in El-Obeid, the capital of North Kordofan state, and OCHA reiterated its call for an immediate cessation of hostilities and for all parties to protect civilians and respect international humanitarian law.

Atrocities and survivor accounts

People who fled El-Fasher have reported severe abuses during the RSF takeover, including widespread sexual violence. One woman using the pseudonym Amira, a mother of four sheltering in Tawila, described mass, public gang rapes and attacks on civilians during a webinar organized by campaign group Avaaz. Such testimonies underscore mounting concerns about large-scale civilian abuse.

"The rapes were gang rapes. Mass rape in public, rape in front of everyone and no one could stop it," Amira said. "You'd be asleep and they'd come and rape you."

Yale University's Humanitarian Research Lab released high-resolution satellite imagery it says documents damage and potential atrocities from the RSF's capture of El-Fasher. The lab's executive director, Nathaniel Raymond, described the images as "a spark plug for public outrage." Both sides in the conflict have faced accusations of serious abuses.

Regional involvement and accusations

The UN has accused the United Arab Emirates of supplying arms to the RSF — an allegation Abu Dhabi has repeatedly denied. On Wednesday, Abu Dhabi expressed support for a ceasefire and condemned ongoing human rights violations across Sudan, including in El-Fasher. Observers say the Sudanese army has received political or material backing from countries such as Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Iran.

Diplomatic efforts and truce proposals

Diplomacy has intensified but remains fraught. Sudan's army-backed defence minister, Hassan Kabroun, said the military would continue fighting the RSF after an internal meeting to consider a US ceasefire proposal, thanking what he called "the Trump administration for its efforts and proposals to achieve peace" while adding that "preparations for the Sudanese people's battle are ongoing."

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters Washington wants "to see this conflict come to a peaceful end" and said the United States is "actively engaged" in talks alongside Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the UAE. Earlier, army-aligned authorities rejected a Quad truce plan that would have excluded both the army and the RSF from a transitional political process.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged the warring parties to "come to the negotiating table, bring an end to this nightmare of violence — now." Humanitarian agencies continue to call for safe access to deliver aid and stronger measures to protect civilians.

Note: Details regarding who carried out the El-Obeid funeral attack and the exact timing remain unconfirmed by independent sources. The UN's statements and survivor testimonies form the basis of current reporting.