HRC62 - EU Statement - Urgent Debate on the human rights situation in and around El Obeid, in the context of the ongoing conflict in the Sudan
European Union
UNITED NATIONS HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL
Urgent Debate on the human rights situation in and around El Obeid, in the context of the ongoing conflict in the Sudan
3 July 2026
EU statement
Mr (Ms Vice) President,
I have the honour to speak on behalf of the EU.
Albania, Liechtenstein, North Macedonia, Moldova and Montenegro align themselves with this statement.
The European Union welcomes the convening of this Urgent Debate. We meet at a moment for prevention. El Obeid, the capital of North Kordofan, stands on the brink. After more than eighteen months of siege-like conditions, its civilians now face an imminent ground and air offensive by the Rapid Support Forces.
The High Commissioner and the UN Security Council have warned of an imminent risk of mass atrocities. The patterns of atrocity documented by this Council’s Fact-Finding Mission in El Fasher and the Zamzam camp in its report “Sudan: Hallmarks of Genocide in El-Fasher”, extrajudicial or summary executions, ethnically targeted killings, abductions, and widespread sexual and gender-based violence must not be repeated in El Obeid.
The EU urges on the Rapid Support Forces to halt their assault on El Obeid immediately, and on all parties to cease hostilities and to respect their obligations under international humanitarian law. Safe, rapid and unhindered humanitarian access and the safe passage of civilians must be ensured. Attacks directed against civilians and civilian infrastructure such as power stations, water supplies, hospitals, humanitarian convoys or on humanitarian and medical personnel are unlawful, must stop, and may amount to war crimes.
The primary responsibility for this war, and for ending it, lies with the leadership of both the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces and their affiliated militias, and with those who arm, finance and enable them. All external actors supplying weapons or other support to the war must cease immediately, in line with the Berlin Principles for Sudan. The EU will continue to advocate for the expansion of both the ICC mandate and the UN arms embargo to the whole of Sudan.
The EU is acting. Together with our Quintet partners (the African Union, the United Nations, IGAD and the League of Arab States) we are working to advance an immediate ceasefire and an inclusive, Sudanese owned and led 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 of EUR 1.5 billion mobilised by international donors for affected civilians. Through the EU Special Representative for the Horn of Africa, we are pursuing concrete work on the protection of critical infrastructure. Our restrictive measures already target those responsible for violations and for undermining Sudan’s stability, and we have reached agreement to expand sanctions to those who profit from this war. We will continue to support the Fact-Finding Mission and the International Criminal Court, because we must end impunity.
Mr (Ms Vice) President,
El Obeid must not become another El Fasher. Kordofan must not become another Darfur. States with influence have the duty to exercise it now. The EU reaffirms its commitment to the sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity of Sudan, and to its people.
Thank you.