Drone strikes and abuse rock Sudan's El-Obeid as conflict intensifies over city

What the report says

France24 Africa reported on 28 July 2026 that fighting around El-Obeid in Sudan has intensified after two days of heavy clashes between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces. According to the report, the army said it had taken control of the Al Sadarat highway, described as an important military supply route, and had in effect broken the RSF’s siege pressure on the city.

The outlet said the RSF responded by stepping up drone attacks on El-Obeid, where hundreds of thousands of civilians remain trapped. France24’s headline also referred to abuse affecting the city, but the accessible article text does not provide specific details about incidents, victims or alleged perpetrators beyond identifying the conflict parties and the wider escalation.

El-Obeid is a strategically important city in central Sudan and has been affected by the broader war between the army and the RSF, which began in 2023 and has devastated multiple regions of the country. Control of supply roads can shape the ability of either side to reinforce positions, move weapons and maintain pressure on urban areas.

The reported developments matter because they suggest a possible shift in the military situation around El-Obeid while also raising immediate concerns for civilians who cannot leave. With drone strikes increasing and a large population still inside the city, the humanitarian risk remains high, even as the battlefield claims cited by France24 have not been independently detailed in the available text.