July 2
FEARS OF NEW MASSACRE IN EL-OBEID: WHAT DO WE KNOW? UN Human
Rights Council scheduled to hold urgent debate Friday about the crisis in el-Obeid,
capital of N Kordofan. Intl groups fear it is on the brink of a humanitarian catastrophe as
RSF tighten their siege. With attack drones raining down on civilian areas and military
reinforcements massing outside the city, there are mounting concerns of more mass
killings by RSF forces. The city is strategically important in Sudan’s grinding war…. the
primary gateway linking Khartoum with the vast Darfur region. It is a major military
stronghold…hosts an airbase, major oil pipeline and large gum arabic market. 500,000
residents lived in the city, which has become a refuge for 100,000 displaced people
fleeing violence in Darfur and other regions. The siege has seen the price of food surge
to 300% with much of the population unable to afford rising costs or reach a safe
destination. RSF escalated attacks on civilian infrastructure. 16 civilian and service
targets have been damaged including hospitals, schools, power stations and fuel depots.
8 students at Jeel Al-Raid school were injured when drone shrapnel pierced their
classrooms while they were studyi ng. Attacks crippled electricity and water services,
forcing residents such as 35-year-old Aqsam Mohammed to walk long distances just to
secure murky, undrinkable water for her 7 children. Nihad al-Tayeb, Armed Conflict
Location & Event Data Proj, reported RSF movements east, south and west of the city.
Mohamed Rifaat, Intl Org for Migration, warned el-Obeid is approaching total siege that
will soon render civilians “unable to leave or return safely” Conditions could soon
match el-Fasher, where UN estimates 6,000 people were killed in the first 3 days of itsfall.
UNHRC debate…was formally requested by a core group of nations including
Britain, Germany, Ireland, Netherlands and Norway – which issued a stark warning
500,000 civilians are at risk of large-scale atrocities. However, political efforts remain
gridlocked. Sudanese foreign min recently denied rejecting a US proposal to end the
war, describing statements made by Massad Boulos…as inaccurate. The min insisted it
engaged constructively with the proposal and remains committed to the 2023 Jeddah
declaration. As political manoeuvres stall, it is feared the window to save hundreds of
thousands of civilians in el-Obeid is rapidly closing. Al Jazeera
July 1
AMNESTY SAYS RSF COMMITTED ETHNIC CLEANSING IN EL-FASHER.
Rights group accuses paramilitary of crimes against humanity for attacks in and around
capital of N Darfur. RSF committed crimes against humanity and ethnic cleansing
during their attack on el-Fasher city 2024-25, Amnesty Intl alleges in a new report.
Amnesty documented civilians in and around N Darfur…were “killed, injured, beaten,
tortured and detained. Hundreds of thousands of children have been displaced, many
repeatedly risking death and injury during attacks or while fleeing. Countless have been
orphaned. People with disabilities and older people faced acute risks, targeted attacks,
abandonment and exclusion from essential assistance. The report pointed out RSF
continually attacked villages and towns around el-Fasher where the Zaghawa ethnic
group predominantly lived. After RSF waged its final offensive on el-Fasher Oct 26, the
rights group found hundreds of civilians were “executed and many others were tortured
or detained”. One 58-year-old woman survivor saw nearly 1,000 dead bodies, including
children. According to Amnesty, the RSF besieged el-Fasher May 2024-Oct 2025,
restricting food and humanitarian aid while shelling the city almost daily. The siege
contributed to famine, forcing residents to eat ambaz, a peanut oil byproduct normally
used as animal feed. Agnes Callamard, Amnesty secy-gen, said it was a “war on
civilians. The world was warned of the horrors civilians in el-Fasher confronted as the
RSF laid siege to the city. It is a stain on the conscience of humanity. A nationwide
ceasefire is immediately needed. An independent and adequately resourced intl force
must be deployed to Sudan to protect civilians against crimes by all parties to the
conflict. Without urgent action from the intl community, attacks on civilians – and the
immense suffering and trauma being inflicted on children.” Al Jazeera
RIGHTS CALL ON UCI TO SUSPEND UAE TEAM. Human rights organizations
called on cycling’s governing body Union Cycliste Internationale, to suspend licence of
UAE Team Emirates-XRG and open an urgent review into governance of state-backed
teams in professional cycling. In a joint letter sent June 25 to UCI Pres, head of Tour de
France, FairSquare, Sudan Unlimited, Christian Solidarity Worldwide and Bahrain Inst
for Rights & Democracy urged immediate action over…political and financial
entanglement of the team with the UAE state. The appeal comes as UAE Team
Emirates-XRG leads UCI team rankings and prepares for another high-profile Tour deFrance
campaign….The groups argue the team’s global success functions as a platform
for state branding, raising serious ethical questions about the intersection of sport,
corporate sponsorship and geopolitical influence. The letter highlights deep structural
links between UAE Team Emirates-XRG and state-associated institutions and
companies. The team is supported by major UAE-linked entities including Emirates
airline, XRG investment tied to Abu Dhabi Natl Oil Co, First Abu Dhabi Bank and
telecommunications firm E&….the team “has the aim of representing an entire nation,
UAE” and describes it “a symbol of sporting success,” arguing its branding and
sponsorship effectively aligns it with state identity. Critics say such arrangements blur
the line between commercial sport and state projection, particularly in global
competitions with large intl audiences. A central point…concerns accusations relating to
the war in Sudan, where UAE played a significant role supporting RSF. The letter states
there is irrefutable evidence UAE acted as RSF’s primary financial backer and arms
supplier, referencing…UN experts, Amnesty Intl, Human Rights Watch and intl media
investigations. The organizations argue that…visibility of UAE-linked sporting projects
contributes to reputational gains for the state when it faces serious intl allegations. The
letter further argues UCI has a responsibility under UN Guiding Principles on Business
& Human Rights to assess whether its competitions may indirectly provide reputational
benefits to states accused of grave violations. It notes cycling’s most prominent events
have become “a very public platform UAE state is using to project a positive image of
UAE.” The organizations call for broader reassessment of how UCI evaluates state-
linked teams, including those with complex sponsorship structures. The case adds to a
growing debate in professional cycling over influence of state-linked funding and
implications for governance, transparency and competitive integrity. Critics argue that
sponsor-heavy models in cycling create structural vulnerability to political influence,
particularly when teams are closely tied to natl branding strategies. FairSquare dir
McGeehan: “cycling’s sponsor-driven business model makes it easy prey for
authoritarians looking for cheap and effective public relations,”…failures to anticipate
these risks turned major races into platforms for state image-building. He
described…elite sporting events risk becoming tools of geopolitical messaging….
Almayadeen
CHINA WAIVED $50MN LOAN: WHAT’S IN IT FOR KHARTOUM, BEJING?
China and Sudan signed a waiver of $50mn as Sudan’s military-led govt seeks support
amid Western sanctions. The sum is small compared with what Sudan owes external
governments or agencies, estimated at $56bn before the war. But the waiver lands…
when Khartoum has few other intl lenders extending any financial support. China’s
relationship with Sudan predates the war by decades, built on oil and infrastructure
interests that survived multiple changes of govt. Here’s why this deal is significant for
Sudan and China: The signed protocol cancels 4 interest-free loans worth $50mn, with
immediate effect…Fin Min Ibrahim welcomed the move, saying China continued
investing in the country throughout the war while Western govts…largely held back.Gibril
himself was added to US Treasury sanctions for “involvement in Sudan’s brutal
civil war and…connections to Iran”. China’s charge d’affaires said China was ready to
help rebuild what was destroyed during the war. $50mn debt relief amounts to not even
1% of total external pre-war debt. Sudan was close to a far bigger debt write-off…. 2021
military coup derailed that debt relief and the process was suspended a year later.
“$50mn debt waiver will have a negligible impact on Sudan’s economy,” Hamid Ali,
Doha Inst for Grad Studies: “It does not inject new resources into the economy, nor does
it provide sufficient confidence to encourage lending or investment. While symbolically
important, such a waiver is unlikely to alter Sudan’s economic trajectory without
broader financial support and structural reforms.” Still, that symbolism is significant,
Harry Cross, researcher, political economy of Sudan: “The govt of the Armed Forces has
been seeking to raise investment to access foreign exchange and intl legitimacy.
Although for the most part unsuccessful, this could signal such a strategy will bear fruit
with investors and governments in Asia.” China’s waiver arrives at a moment of acute
need. The war is in its 3rd year. 1.5mn people have been killed…and the war displaced
14mn people. WHO says 14% of health facilities are still functioning. Jobs vanished in
many parts of the country, and rising cost of living made it difficult for households to
survive. The pound collapsed since the start of the war. It went from 600 per $1 before
the war, to 5,000 per $1. The waiver representing a minor amount is “not insignificant”,
Daniel Large, Central European Univ: “It’s a notable symbolic gesture of Beijing’s
public political solidarity with Sudan’s govt.”
Beijing’s decision to waive the loan is in keeping with a broader approach in recent
years that helped cement China as Africa’s largest trading partner 17 years. China
provided interest-free loan forgiveness as a diplomatic gesture to multiple countries,
recurrent announcements at Beijing’s frequent summits with African nations. This is
especially true for smaller loans. Johns Hopkins China Africa Research Initiative found
China forgave $3.4bn of…debt across the African continent 2000-19. By contrast, larger
loans are usually commercial loans through state banks with interest, and waiving those
is harder. At a time when the West is largely trying to isolate Sudan’s leadership, a small
loan waiver gives China outsized influence in a country…at the intersection of Middle
East and sub-Saharan Africa. “China views Sudan from a geostrategic perspective,
considering it an important gateway to Africa. Despite Sudan’s current economic
difficulties and struggle to meet even basic needs, China’s continued engagement signals
its intention to maintain and deepen cooperation…over the long term.” Oil long served as
a catalyst for their relationship. From mid-90s China’s Natl Petroleum Corp poured
$USbn into Sudanese oil fields and pipelines carrying crude oil…when many Western
companies were pushed out due to sanctions. The world’s newest country, So Sudan, left
the north and took most oil fields with it. Chinese investment largely dried up afterwards
but Sudan still has $5bn outstanding debt to China. The war aggravated Sudan’s
economic challenges. CNPC requested a formal exit from Sudan in 2025. Al Jazeera
June 19
PROMINENT SUDANESE JOURNALIST DENIED UK VISA TO COLLECT
PRESTIGIOUS AWARD. Mohammed Amin was awarded ‘Journalist of the Year’ but he
couldn’t attend the ceremony because UK refused to give him a visa. Amin has accused
UK government of neglecting Sudan’s crisis.
June 18
29 COUNTRIES RAISE ALARM ABOUT ATROCITIES IN EL-OBEID. An intl
coalition warned at UNHRC that RSF could imminently escalate an assault on el-
Obeid. …Coalition for Atrocity Prevention & Justice for Sudan, comprising Britain,
Canada, France, Germany, Ireland, Netherlands and Sierra Leone joined by 21 other
countries: “We are gravely alarmed by urgent risks of atrocities and deliberate killings in
Sudan,” 500,000 civilians are “at risk of falling victim to large-scale atrocities”. El-
Obeid is one of Sudan’s largest cities and capital of N Cordovan, scene of the heaviest
fighting in recent months…The coalition urged all states to apply maximum pressure on
RSF and…SAF, to prevent atrocities and protect civilians. It reiterated the need for
unhindered humanitarian access: “10 consecutive days of drone strikes killed 50
civilians across El Obeid and N Kordofan, and caused significant damage to civilian
infrastructure. Widespread credible reports of ethnically targeted violence, including
sexual and gender-based violence, are deplorable.” The sides are fighting over the vast
Kordofan region, crucial to agriculture. UNHCHR issued a stark warning that an
imminent offensive risked potential violations of intl law, and warned that people living
in el-Obeid had already been suffering siege-like conditions for 18 months: “We have
seen this playbook before. We cannot allow repeat of the preventable atrocities we
documented in al-Fasher and Zamzam IDP camp N Darfur last year. Let this be a stark
warning to the world about an impending human rights disaster and worsening
humanitarian situation. States with influence have the duty to exercise it now to stop this
madness in its tracks.” Al Jazeera
June 17
SUDAN’S YOUNG WOMEN RETURN TO INTL SOCCER AS WAR AND TABOOS
LINGER. Their red jerseys stood out against the green pitch. Most were teenage girls.
Some had fled war. Others had never played in an organized soccer league or set foot in
a major stadium. Yet when they took the field…they marked Sudan’s first appearance in
intl women’s soccer since a civil war erupted in a country where women’s participation
in sports has long been controversial. “My goal is to lift up soccer in my country,” Nura
Mohamed, 17-year-old team capt. “It’s a beautiful, unique feeling because…I just love
playing.” Sudan’s under-17 women’s team traveled last week for qualifying matches on
the road to the 2028 Olympics. The inexperienced squad suffered heavy defeats against
Comoros….Many players broke down in tears after the final whistle….They faced an
older, fitter, more experienced opponent. They only started training weeks ago. “The
difference between us and the others is huge. We cannot yet compete at the highest
level,” Burhan Tia, soccer coach who oversees Sudan’s women’s natl teams, said after
the first match, a 17–0 defeat. “Comoros has many players competing…our team is
mainly made up of schoolgirls.” Sudan’s women’s soccer collapsed when civil war
erupted. …debuting this young squad after years of conflict marks an important step in
keeping women’s soccer alive in Sudan. “Many are separated from their families, yet
they continue to work hard and pursue their dream,” Manal Ali Bushra women’s soccer
comm….Tia knew the magnitude of the challenge when he accepted the job…“First, I
had to find girls who played soccer. Then, I had to make sure they were the right age.
Then I needed to convince their parents to let them miss classes for training.” He
recruited 10 players from teams and academies in Cairo, the rest from Sudanese cities.
Tia would have liked to recruit from conflict-hit areas like Darfur or Kordofan, known
for top athletes. But many girls lost identification documents, making it impossible to
verify their ages. The war shattered transportation, turning journeys between cities…into
perilous trips lasting days. On the field, the players’ lack of experience was evident.
The war halted every sports activity, including the women’s soccer league established
after the 2019 progressive revolution that ousted al-Bashir. His 3-decade Islamist rule
was marked by Public Order Laws that…restricted women’s freedoms. Even after the
revolution, prominent preacher Abdulhay Yousif said establishment of a women’s football
league was aimed at undermining religion: “…women running, jumping,
sweating, even something as simple as their bodies being visible in motion, was
seen by Bashir’s Islamist regime as producing fitna,…understood as sexual or
moral chaos,” Liv Tønnessen, political scientist: “So when women step onto a
soccer pitch, they are directly confronting that entire logic. They are not just
present in a male-dominated sports arena, they are moving freely in it, on their
own terms.” Beyond institutional hurdles, players faced a wave of sexist abuse
online. On social media accounts, many commenters mocked them for big defeats.
Others posted “go back to the kitchen,” in multiple languages. AfricaNews
June 13
DRONE STRIKES ON EL-OBEID KILLED 23 PEOPLE IN ONE OF
DEADLIEST AERIAL ATTACKS SINCE WAR BEGAN. “It is tragic. The roofs
of houses collapsed on their occupants,” resident of Al-Matar. “When you look at
some houses, you feel no one could have survived.” Another resident of Al-
Qubba…said his cousin was among those killed and he had seen 7 bodies brought
to a local hospital. A medical source told AFP children and a woman believed to be
their mother were among those killed. Emergency Lawyers group documenting
abuses throughout the war said the attack on the key hub began…striking
residential areas, a funeral gathering and truck carrying food supplies. 19 people
were wounded, according to the group, which blamed the attacks on the RSF. El-
Obeid, capital of N Kordofan, has been partially encircled for months by
paramilitary forces and sits along a key route linking RSF-held areas in Darfur to
army-controlled regions in the east. 5 civilians were killed…in the initial strikes. A
subsequent attack targeted mourners gathered at a cemetery, killing 4 and injuring
7. Further strikes hit homes….13 civilians were killed as they gathered near
damaged houses. A drone strike hit a truck carrying food supplies at the entrance to
El-Obeid, killing the driver and destroying cargo. According to UN 880 civilians
were killed in drone strikes across the country Jan-April. Cordovan home to oil
deposits, arable land and RSF’s powerful paramilitary allies remains a key
battleground…fiercely contested. The New Arab
June 9
POVERTY RATE SURGES TO 73% AS WAR DEVASTATES
LIVELIHOODS…. Sudan had achieved…poverty reduction over the past 2
decades, falling from 38.1% in 1990 to 15.6% in 2011….Human Resources Min
Saleh announced the…second phase of a voluntary return program…establishing
partnerships to implement 500,000 projects for youth, agricultural initiatives to
provide seeds and fertilizers…15 partnerships to support women’s groups, noting
that women managed these projects with serious commitment and efficiency. In
2025…poverty had risen from 21% to 71%…. UN Develop Programme warned
extreme poverty could reach 60% by 2030, affecting 36mn people if the conflictcontinues.
Saleh outlined 5-year plan…aimed at securing livelihoods supporting
3mn small projects to help improve economic conditions. Most Sudanese lost their
jobs and businesses after conflict erupted,…forcing reliance on diaspora
remittances and aid. Resilience has eroded amid economic collapse, forcing
families into negative coping mechanisms including reducing daily meals,
consuming lower-quality food, selling assets, child labour and underage marriage.
Electricity has been restored to up to 80% of Khartoum and several states despite
total destruction of 14,700 transformers….Large parts of Khartoum State regained
power,…restored water services to 25% capacity despite severe infrastructure
damage. The govt is working to create an environment conducive to citizens
returning and finding work, particularly following resumption of funding channels
through banks, Zakat Chamber and Poverty Alleviation Commission….community
efforts to rehabilitate hospitals and provide medical equipment, leveraging
Egyptian expertise in vocational training, reconstruction and scholarships for
Sudanese residents in Egypt. Sudan Tribune
ARMY ANTI-AIRCRAFT GUNS ENGAGED DRONES FLYING OVER
KHARTOUM STATE with explosions heard across Omdurman and Khartoum N.
Following previous drone attacks on Khartoum State targeting the airport and
electricity facilities, the army deployed air defence systems….Witnesses…heard
explosions in Khartoum N and Omdurman, where the army’s hqs are located. They
saw air defence missiles intercepting strategic drones flying over Omdurman and E
Nile. Military sources said RSF drone attempted to bomb military sites NW of
Omdurman before ground defences intercepted it….The army carried out drone
airstrikes…in Kurmuk, southern Blue Nile, targeting defences of an alliance
between RSF and SPLM-N. Army forces are trying to regain control of Kurmuk, a
strategic town on the border with Ethiopia, with battles raging on its southern,
western and northern outskirts. The fighting… displaced tens of thousands of
people to camps in Ed Damazin, capital of Blue Nile. Sudan Tribune
VICTIMS OF ATROCITIES…ASKED PROSECUTORS IN KENYA TO INVESTIGATE…TORTURE AND SEXUAL VIOLENCE.
the first attempt toprosecute members of RSF…outside Sudan. The group, has ties with Kenya’s
government, while Pres Ruto previously hosted Gen. Dagalo for talks…aimed at
advancing peace efforts, a move that sparked diplomatic tensions. 12 victims are
urging Kenya’s Dir of Pub Prosecutions to approve charges against 10 members of
RSF, some residing in Kenya. Victims were held in inhumane conditions with little
or no food, limited access to water and inadequate sanitation facilities. They…were
beaten, burned, suffocated, subjected to electric shocks, sexually abused, including
through rape. Legal Action Worldwide…said Kenya should consider
prosecuting…under the Intl Crimes Act: “For Sudanese victims, it represents a rare
and urgent needed pathway to justice when accountability options remain
extremely limited. Sudan’s justice system is inaccessible, unavailable and
ineffective at this time”. Willis Otieno, lawyer in Kenya who filed the complaint,
said there was information suggesting some persons of interest have links to Kenya
and the country possesses the legal framework necessary to investigate and
prosecute such crimes. RSF has…been accused of mass killing, gang rape and
ethnicity-motivated crimes, most recently…on el-Fasher, in which 6,000 people
were killed in 3 days. The war killed 59,000 people over 3 years, according to
Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Proj, US-based war tracking group which
said the toll was almost certainly undercut given difficulties reporting.
AfricaNews/AP
SUDANESE JOURNALISTS SYNDICATE PROVIDED SOCIAL SUPPORT TO
1,000 JOURNALISTS…2022-26, in light of unprecedented challenges faced byworkers
in media and union sectors, as a result of the continued war. Walid El
Nour…explained the aid took into account allocating 30% to support female
journalists, 20 % as health support as part of efforts to narrow the wide gap in
support between the sexes. …immediately after union elections in 2022 with 23
journalists benefiting, 200 in 2023, 400 in 2024, 300 in 2025, and 87 journalists
during the first ¼ this year….El Nour attributed the large increase in
beneficiaries to repercussions of the war, which caused most of them to lose
their jobs and put them on the brink of poverty….the union council’s decision
to suspend monthly subscriptions had a negative impact on provision of
financial resources, expressing the union’s regret for its inability to cover all
needs of members, especially in areas of active clashes, in addition to sick,
displaced and refugee journalists. El Nour explained that aid funding came
from intl bodies, while contribution of membership subscriptions…2022-April
2023 amounted to just 5% of support. Kamal El Sadig, Radio Dabanga,
underlined that years of unrelenting war in Sudan caused massive devastation,
affecting all aspects of life….Facilities and equipment have been destroyed, 2/3
of journalists fled the country, all press and media institutions ceased
operations, at a time when…people have more need for vital information than
ever.