France, Jan. 22 -- The city is one ofSudan's most important and the capital of North Kordofan state, part of the widerKordofan regionthat stands between the RSF's Darfur stronghold and the army-controlled eastern half of the country.

After the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) tightened their grip on the western-most Darfur region in late October, they shifted their focus to Kordofan and drones have struck weekly in and around al-Obeid, residents say.

At around the same time, the paramilitary's ground forces began taking over towns and villages across Kordofan, while also besieging cities inSouth Kordofanstate.

The force has not yet approached al-Obeid, where daily life has continued despite the looming threat and an exodus late ...