UN, France condemn escalating drone attacks in Sudan
Drone strikes on civilian infrastructure are disrupting essential services and killing civilians, including children.
The United Nations and France have condemned escalating drone attacks across Sudan, warning that strikes on civilian infrastructure are disrupting essential services and killing civilians, including children. The French embassy in Sudan called the recent escalation of air strikes entirely unacceptable, citing attacks in Darfur, Khartoum, Abyei, the northern Nile Valley, Kordofan, and Blue Nile. These attacks have killed hundreds of civilians, including many children, within a few days.
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) also expressed concern over continuing drone attacks, noting damage to vital civilian infrastructure and disruption of essential services for millions. A major electricity substation serving Khartoum state was struck on Tuesday, October 27, following strikes on power stations in El Gezira, Sennar, and El Gedaref states on Monday, October 26. Local authorities reported extensive damage, threatening the national electricity grid.
The UN’s Independent International Fact-Finding Mission for Sudan warned that expanding drone attacks and repression in El Obeid put civilians at increasing risk. Drone strikes attributed to the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) killed and injured civilians, damaged schools and displacement sites, and disrupted access to healthcare, electricity, and water in North Kordofan’s capital. The mission chair noted the conflict is becoming more geographically extensive, technologically sophisticated, and dangerous for civilians.
Why it mattersCivilians across Sudan are at increasing risk from drone attacks that damage essential infrastructure and cause civilian casualties.