NORTH KOROFAN – At least four civilians were killed and eight others wounded after artillery fire struck residential areas in the city of El Obeid located in Sudan’s North Kordofan state, early on Wednesday, May 14, 2025. The Sudanese Doctor’s Syndicate blamed the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) for the deadly assault and accused the group of internationally targeting populated areas.
The attack occurred in the early morning hours, according to a statement from they syndicate, which condemned the shelling as a deliberate violation of international humanitarian law. The RSF a powerful paramilitary locked in a brutal conflict with the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), has long maintained a presence north of El Obeid, particularly in the town of Bara and surrounding areas.
Eyewitnesses reported that the bombardment came from the northern outskirts of the city, aligning with known RSF positions. The group has been in control of those areas for an extended period, and similar incidents have previously been attributed to their forces.
In its official statement, the Sudanese Doctors’ Syndicate confirmed that the shekking hit civilian zones exclusively, resulting in loss of life and injuries among non-combatants. “The residential neighborhoods were the only targets of this shelling,” the statement said, placing the blame squarely on the RSF. the syndicate characterized the incident as “an international act of violence against civilians,”
in further criticized the RSF’s conduct, stating: “This attack is a clear breach of international humanitarian law.” The organization called on global actors to act decisively. “We call on the international community to take serious actions to pressure the RSF leadership and their backers to halt the deliberate targeting of civilians and to stop using heavy weapons in populated areas.”
The doctors’ group warned that the assault in El Obeid is part of a wider campaign by the RSF, which has used similar tactics in other regions. “The repeated artillery strikes by the RSF are not confined to El Obeid,” the statement noted. “Similar attacks have been documented in various parts of Darfur, Kordofan, and the capital Khartoum, all following the same strategy of targeting civilians.”
This latest attack in El Obeid adds to the growing list of atrocities committed during Sudan’s ongoing civil war, which erupted in April 2023. Both the RSF and SAF have been accused of committing widespread abuses against civilians, with indiscriminate bombings, forced displacements, and extrajudicial killings reported in multiple states.
North Kordofan has witnessed escalating violence as fighting between rival forces intensifies. civilians in contested areas often find themselves trapped without access to food, healthcare, or safe shelter, as humanitarian agencies struggle to reach those in need.
The Sudanese Doctors’ Syndicate has remained one of the key bodies documenting attacks against civilians and health infrastructure across the country. their latest statement highlights not only the human toll of the conflict but also the persistent lack of accountability for attacks that violate the laws of war.
with no political solution in sight and international pressure still limited, the population of El Obeid and similar urban centers continue to face mounting threats, caught in the crossfire of war that shows no signs of abating.
