CAIRO — More than 20 civilians have been killed in a series of drone strikes on civilian vehicles in Sudan over recent days, according to human rights organizations, as the use of unmanned aircraft grows increasingly widespread in the war-torn nation.
The Sudan Doctors Network reported Wednesday that a drone struck the outskirts of Khartoum, killing 10 civilians — among them five women from the same family — who were on their way to a wedding. The medical aid organization, which has been documenting violence between Sudan’s military and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces throughout the conflict’s four-year span, attributed Tuesday’s attack to the RSF. The strike occurred on a road west of Omdurman, a city neighboring the capital, Khartoum. Everyone aboard the vehicle, which burst into flames, died.
The group described the strike as “deliberate and carried out using a guided drone” and urged the international community to put pressure on RSF leadership to end attacks on civilians.
A separate incident on Tuesday saw a drone hit a transport vehicle near a water facility in the province, claiming two more lives, according to Emergency Lawyers, a group that monitors violence across Sudan. The day before, 13 civilians — including five women — were killed when a drone struck their vehicle as they traveled to a wedding in the town of al-Shaatout in North Kordofan province, the same group reported.
Emergency Lawyers described the violence as part of a troubling trend, stating: “This attack is part of an escalating pattern of drone attacks on civilians as drones continue to fly over the northern parts of the province…monitoring residents’ movements.”
North Kordofan province has experienced a significant increase in drone strikes, amid repeated warnings from international observers about RSF forces advancing on the strategically important city of el-Obeid, which is home to the army’s 5th Infantry Division. According to the United Nations, drone attacks on the city have damaged civilian infrastructure, including power facilities and residential neighborhoods, as well as bridges and critical supply routes.
The war in Sudan erupted in April 2023 following long-standing tensions between the national army and the RSF. Since then, the conflict has claimed the lives of at least 59,000 people, forced roughly 13 million from their homes, and driven large portions of the country into famine. More than 30 million people are currently in need of humanitarian aid.
