A United Nations fact-finding team member reported that the Sudanese city of Al-Abyad is currently under siege [1].
The report signals a potential escalation in the conflict, suggesting that the city may face a humanitarian crisis similar to the violence witnessed in El Fasher. This development threatens the safety of thousands of civilians and the stability of critical urban infrastructure.
Joy Nguzi Izilo, a member of the United Nations Integrated Transition Assistance Mission in Sudan (UNITAMS) fact-finding team, said that attacks on civilians and essential infrastructure are escalating [1]. She said that the Rapid Support Forces have initiated a campaign of arbitrary arrests targeting the civilian population [1].
Izilo described the situation as a tightening grip on the city. She said that there are indications of a new “Fashir”-type operation unfolding in Al-Abyad [1]. The reference to El Fasher suggests a pattern of intense urban warfare and mass displacement.
According to the UN official, the escalation is driven by the strategy of the Rapid Support Forces to establish tighter control over the city [1]. This strategy involves the use of intensified attacks, and the systemic detention of non-combatants to neutralize local resistance.
Al-Abyad, also known as White, serves as a critical hub in the region. The current siege limits the movement of goods and people, further isolating the population from humanitarian aid and medical supplies [1].
“the city of Al‑Abyad (White) is under siege”
The comparison to the operations in El Fasher indicates a shift toward high-intensity urban sieges designed to force total submission. If the Rapid Support Forces successfully replicate the 'Fashir' model in Al-Abyad, it could lead to a significant increase in civilian casualties and a total collapse of basic services in the city, complicating international efforts to broker a ceasefire in Sudan.
