Sudan funeral attack kills at least 40 people

PORT SUDAN – At least 40 people were killed in an attack on a funeral in El-Obeid, the capital of Sudan’s North Kordofan state, the United Nations reported on Wednesday. The UN’s humanitarian office did not specify the date of the attack or identify those responsible but warned that the security situation in Kordofan continues to deteriorate amid preparations for a new paramilitary offensive. The assault highlights the ongoing escalation in Sudan, where the war between the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and the military, ongoing since 2023, has already killed tens of thousands and displaced millions.

The RSF, which recently captured El-Fasher—the last army stronghold in Darfur—was reportedly preparing to launch an assault in Kordofan. “Local sources report that at least 40 civilians were killed and dozens injured yesterday in an attack on a funeral gathering in El-Obeid,” said the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). The agency called for an immediate cessation of hostilities and urged all parties to protect civilians and uphold international humanitarian law.

Reports from displaced residents describe widespread atrocities, including mass sexual violence. Amira, a mother of four sheltering in Tawila, about 70 kilometers west of El-Fasher, recounted incidents of gang rape and abductions during previous RSF attacks. Doctors Without Borders (MSF) reported that more than 300 survivors of sexual violence had sought care following assaults on the Zamzam camp, which displaced over 380,000 people last spring. Both the RSF and army forces have been accused of committing atrocities throughout the conflict.

The fall of El-Fasher gives the RSF control over all five state capitals in Darfur, fueling concerns that Sudan may become effectively partitioned along east-west lines. While the RSF dominates Darfur and parts of southern Sudan, the army retains control over northern, eastern, and central regions along the Nile and Red Sea. The UN has accused the UAE of supplying arms to the RSF, a claim the UAE denies, while the Sudanese military has reportedly received support from Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Iran.

In parallel, the United States has proposed a truce to end the fighting, though details have not been disclosed. Sudanese army-backed defence minister Hassan Kabroun said the military would continue operations against the RSF despite the US proposal. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt emphasized that Washington, alongside Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE, remains engaged in efforts to broker peace, while acknowledging the “very complicated situation on the ground.” Earlier truce proposals, including one from the so-called Quad, were rejected by army-aligned authorities, leaving the region mired in what observers describe as a “nightmare of violence.”