HRC62 Urgent Debate on El Obeid, Sudan

62nd Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council: Urgent Debate to discuss the human rights situation in and around El Obeid, North Kordofan, in the context of the ongoing conflict in the Sudan. Statement by Nordic-Baltic States, delivered by Ambassador Heidi Schroderus-Fox, Permanent Representative of Finland on 3 July 2026.

The Nordic-Baltic countries are deeply concerned by the risk of large-scale atrocities in El-Obeid.

Intensified RSF drone attacks and SAF counter-operations are killing civilians and are putting up to 500,000 people at risk in and around El-Obeid. RSF encirclement is restricting movement and disrupting essential services, humanitarian operations and life-saving assistance.

Safe, rapid and unhindered humanitarian access must be ensured. Civilians must be allowed to leave areas of danger voluntarily and without obstruction.

Previous patterns of conduct by RSF as reported by UN give serious cause for concern, including ethnically targeted violence, executions and other atrocities against civilians, including children, with rape being used as a method of warfare.

The leadership of the SAF and the leadership of the RSF, their affiliated militias and external actors supplying them with arms bear the responsibility for this war. This war must end, external support that intensifies and prolongs the conflict must stop, and all actors with influence must act to prevent further atrocities.

The only viable path forward is a durable ceasefire and an inclusive Sudanese-led and owned political process.

I thank you.