G7 foreign ministers and the European Union's foreign policy chief urged Sudan's Rapid Support Forces to stop attacks in El-Obeid on Wednesday [1].
The joint diplomatic push aims to prevent mass atrocities in the capital of North Kordofan state, where civilians face threats from drone strikes and siege tactics. A failure to secure a cease-fire could lead to significant loss of life in a region already destabilized by conflict.
In a joint statement issued July 15, 2026 [1], the G7 and EU called for the RSF and its allied armed groups to stop all actions that could endanger civilians. The statement specifically targeted the use of drones in the besieged city [1].
"We call on the RSF to immediately cease hostilities and drone strikes in the besieged city of El-Obeid," the joint G7-EU statement said [1].
Beyond the immediate cease-fire, the international coalition is advocating for a wider arms embargo on Sudan [1]. This measure is intended to cut off the flow of weaponry that fuels the ongoing hostilities between the RSF and other forces.
The urgency of the request follows previous warnings from international bodies. A U.N. spokesperson said that civilians in North Kordofan face an imminent risk of mass atrocities [2].
The call for a broader embargo reflects a growing consensus among Western powers that targeted sanctions are insufficient to stop the violence. The G7 and EU are pushing for a comprehensive restriction on arms to force the warring parties toward a diplomatic resolution [1].
“"We call on the RSF to immediately cease hostilities and drone strikes in the besieged city of El-Obeid."”
The joint statement signals a coordinated effort by the G7 and EU to move beyond rhetoric and implement structural constraints on the Sudanese conflict. By pairing a specific demand for a cease-fire in El-Obeid with a call for a wider arms embargo, these powers are attempting to degrade the RSF's operational capacity while signaling that the international community is monitoring potential atrocities in North Kordofan.
