Ankara: Intensifying clashes around El Obeid, the capital of Sudan's North Kordofan state, are reshaping the military balance in the country's conflict while heightening concerns over a worsening humanitarian crisis, experts said. They warned that control of El Obeid is critical to preserving Sudan's territorial integrity and that any major military escalation in and around the city could expose hundreds of thousands of civilians to a new humanitarian catastrophe.

According to Anadolu Agency, Ahmed Abdullah, head of the Mashad Human Rights Organization, and Tunc Demirtas, a researcher at the Foundation for Political, Economic and Social Research (SETA), highlighted the latest developments in Sudan. Demirtas emphasized the military dimension of the conflict, arguing that the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have carried out systematic attacks against civilians while seeking to weaken the state's institutional capacity.

Demirtas stated the necessity for the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) to halt the RSF's advances, secure strategic areas, and restore state authority. He cautioned that military pressure alone would be insufficient without addressing the RSF's external support channels, which include weapons supplies, financing, logistical support, and foreign mercenaries. Demirtas argued for combined military efforts, diplomatic initiatives, international backing, and sanctions targeting the RSF's external supply networks.

Demirtas further noted that the conflict has entered a new phase, with a shift of focus toward the Kordofan region, particularly around El Obeid. He described El Obeid as a critical junction for military mobility, logistics, and supply routes, emphasizing the strategic importance of defending the city to maintain both military and civilian stability.

Demirtas called for targeted sanctions against the RSF and its support networks, rather than the Sudanese state, and stressed the importance of strengthening state institutions and building an inclusive political framework for lasting peace.

Abdullah highlighted the dire humanitarian situation across Sudan's conflict zones, with millions facing displacement, collapsing public services, and severe shortages of basic necessities. He reported widespread human rights violations, particularly in Darfur, and stressed the need for accountability to end impunity and achieve lasting peace.

Abdullah also warned of the growing risks for civilians in El Obeid amid expanding military operations and limited humanitarian access, urging international intervention to prevent a humanitarian catastrophe in North Kordofan.