What's happened
Recent drone strikes in Sudan's Kordofan region have killed over 70 civilians, mainly women and children, targeting markets and civilian areas amid ongoing conflict between the Sudanese army and RSF. The attacks have caused widespread casualties and displacement.
What's behind the headline?
The recent drone strikes highlight the brutal nature of Sudan's ongoing conflict, where civilian areas are increasingly targeted, constituting potential war crimes. The attacks on markets and displacement camps exacerbate the humanitarian crisis, with thousands of civilians caught in the crossfire. The Sudanese military and RSF are both relying heavily on drone warfare, which has resulted in significant civilian casualties and international condemnation. The strategic importance of cities like El-Obeid and Bara suggests that control over key transportation routes and regional hubs remains a priority for both sides. The escalation of violence indicates that the conflict will likely intensify, prolonging the suffering of civilians and complicating peace efforts. The international community's response remains limited, and without a ceasefire or peace negotiations, the humanitarian situation will continue to deteriorate, with long-term regional destabilization likely.
What the papers say
All Africa reports over 70 casualties from recent drone strikes, condemning the attacks as war crimes targeting civilians. France 24 details the specific strikes on markets in Abu Zabad and Wad Banda, with residents burying victims and the military denying targeting civilians. The New Arab provides broader context on the ongoing conflict, highlighting the strategic importance of cities like Dilling and El-Obeid, and the reliance on drone warfare by both sides, which has caused hundreds of thousands of displacements and thousands of deaths. The contrasting perspectives underscore the complexity of the conflict, with accusations of war crimes and denials from military sources, illustrating the difficulty in establishing accountability amid ongoing hostilities.
How we got here
Since April 2023, Sudan has been embroiled in a conflict between the army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The war has led to thousands of deaths, mass displacement, and a humanitarian crisis. Drone warfare has become a key tactic, with both sides accused of targeting civilians. The Kordofan region, especially cities like Dilling, El-Obeid, and Abu Zabad, has seen intense fighting and airstrikes, further destabilizing the area and deepening the crisis.
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Sudan, officially the Republic of the Sudan, is a country in North-East Africa. It is bordered by Egypt to the north, Libya to the northwest, Chad to the west, the Central African Republic to the southwest, South Sudan to the south, Ethiopia to the southe
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The Rapid Support Forces are Sudanese paramilitary forces operated by the Sudanese Government. The RSF grew out of, and is primarily composed of, the Janjaweed militias which fought on behalf of the Sudanese government during the War in Darfur, killing an
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El-Obeid (Arabic: الأبيض, al-ʾAbyaḍ, lit. "the White"), also romanized as Al-Ubayyid, is the capital of the state of North Kurdufan, in Sudan.
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The Sudanese Armed Forces are the military forces of the Republic of the Sudan. During the 39-month transition to democracy that started in September 2019, the August 2019 Draft Constitutional Declaration defines the Supreme Commander of the Sudanese Arme