The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, says another human rights catastrophe is unfolding in Sudan around the besieged city of al-Obeid in North Kordofan. Speaking at an urgent debate at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva on Friday, Türk warns that the situation shows a pattern of serious abuses and calls for international action.
Al-Obeid is the capital of North Kordofan state and has been a focus of recent fighting in Sudan’s long-running war between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Sources describe the city as under siege, with the conflict contributing to a wider humanitarian crisis.
Türk’s remarks include allegations of severe violations reported in the area, such as summary executions, abductions, torture, and sexual violence. Multiple outlets present Türk’s assessment as urgent and unequivocal, emphasizing that the reported abuses are preventable and require a coordinated response from the international community.
