What's happened
Drones attributed to the SAF and RSF have repeatedly struck civilians, markets, hospitals and displacement sites in Sudan, driving mass displacement and deepening a humanitarian crisis. The UN rights office has documented dozens of deaths and numerous injuries in October as fighting intensifies and the war economy sustains itself.
What's behind the headline?
Critical Analysis
- The drone strikes are not random; they target civilian hubs such as displacement sites, markets and hospitals, aiming to erode the civilian base and pressure humanitarian operations.
- Both sides are using drones to influence battlefield dynamics and control economic resources, notably gold mining areas, which ties into the broader war economy.
- The pattern of attacks on displacement camps signals a strategy to displace more people, creating a humanitarian disaster that hinder relief efforts and international response.
- The international response hinges on adherence to humanitarian law and cessation of arms transfers; without that, civilian harm will likely continue and potentially escalate.
- Readers should consider how ongoing violence and displacement affect aid delivery, regional stability, and global food/water security linked to Sudan’s crisis.
How we got here
The conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the RSF erupted in April 2023. Drones have become a central weapon, striking civilian sites from displacement camps to gold mines, and complicating humanitarian relief. International law obligations demand protection of civilians amid escalating attacks and ongoing arms transfers.
Our analysis
According to All Africa, Arab News, and The New Arab, UN rights chief Volker Turk has warned that drone strikes are driving civilian casualties and displacement. Authorities highlight the link between attacks on gold mining sites and the war economy, urging compliance with international humanitarian law.
Go deeper
- What new evidence has emerged about who is operating the drones?
- How is the international community coordinating aid and diplomacy to protect civilians?
- What steps can individuals take to support humanitarian relief efforts in Sudan?
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United Nations - Intergovernmental organization
The United Nations is an intergovernmental organization that aims to maintain international peace and security, develop friendly relations among nations, achieve international cooperation, and be a centre for harmonizing the actions of nations.
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West Kordofan (Arabic: غرب كردفان; Ġarb Kurdufān) is one of the 18 wilayat or provinces of Sudan. In 2006 it had an area of 111,373 km2 and an estimated population of approximately 1,320,405. Al-Fulah is the capital of the state. West Kordofan borders North Kordofan to the north, South Kordofan to the east, South Sudan to the south, East Darfur and North Darfur to the west. In August 2005, West Kordofan State was abolished and its territory divided between North and South Kordofan States, in implementation of the Protocol between the Government of Sudan (GOS) and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) on the resolution of conflict in Southern Kordofan/Nuba Mountains and Blue Nile States signed at Naivasha, Kenya, 26 May 2004. Section 2.1 of the protocol states that "The boundaries of Southern Kordofan/Nuba Mountains State shall be the same boundaries of former Southern Kordofan Province when Greater Kordofan was sub-divided into two provinces." The protocol forms part of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement between the government of Sudan and the Sudan People's Liberation Movement. Al Fulah presently has the status of second capital of South Kordofan State, and sessions of the state...
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Khartoum or Khartum is the capital of Sudan. With a population of 5,274,321, its metropolitan area is the largest in Sudan, the sixth-largest in Africa, the second-largest in North Africa, and the fourth-largest in the Arab world.
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