A deadly drone attack struck a crowded marketplace in Sudan’s West Kordofan province on Tuesday morning, leaving 28 people dead and injuring dozens more, according to a local human rights organization.
The Emergency Lawyers, a rights advocacy group that monitors violations during Sudan’s ongoing conflict, reported on social media that the marketplace in Ghubaysh was hit during peak hours when it was packed with civilians. The organization attributed the attack to the army.
Sudan has been engulfed in warfare since April 2023, when longstanding friction between the military and the rival paramilitary Rapid Support Forces erupted into full conflict. The RSF currently maintains control over West Kordofan.
A representative from Sudan’s military told The Associated Press that the army does not attack civilians or civilian facilities. A second military source also disputed the allegations, claiming that an army drone targeted two RSF military vehicles that were refueling near the marketplace, destroying both vehicles and killing occupants without harming any civilians.
Both sources requested anonymity as they lacked authorization to speak with media outlets. The RSF has not yet responded to requests for comment.
According to the Emergency Lawyers, thousands of residents throughout West Kordofan and surrounding regions depend on the Ghubaysh marketplace for food and vital goods.
Sudan’s civil war has claimed no fewer than 59,000 lives, forced approximately 13 million people from their homes, and created famine conditions across large portions of the nation. Over 30 million citizens require emergency humanitarian aid.
Unmanned aircraft attacks have emerged as the most lethal danger facing civilians in Sudan’s war, with both military forces and the RSF receiving drone supplies from various nations across the Middle East and other regions.
United Nations human rights chief Volker Türk has recently urged action to halt drone shipments to Sudan. U.N. data shows that drone strikes killed no fewer than 880 civilians from January through April.
According to Türk, both the army and RSF deploy drones to gain control of disputed territories, interrupt enemy mobilization, and create instability in opponent-held regions. The RSF recently launched drone strikes against Khartoum International Airport and other locations near Sudan’s capital, which fell under army control last year.
Data from the U.S.-based Armed Conflict Location & Event Data project reveals that drone attacks killed at least 2,670 people in 2025, including both fighters and civilians, representing a 600% surge in drone-related fatalities and an 81% rise in drone strikes compared to the prior year.
Experts indicate that sophisticated drones provided by international supporters have enabled both warring factions to escalate attacks on heavily populated zones, intensifying the conflict and raising concerns about a broader proxy war.
