What's happened
Since early March 2026, drone strikes in Sudan's civil war have killed over 200 civilians, including at least 28 in recent attacks on markets and schools near Chad's border and in White Nile state. The US designated the Sudanese Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist group, citing its role in violence and Iranian support. The conflict has displaced millions and worsened humanitarian crises.
What's behind the headline?
Escalation of Drone Warfare and Civilian Impact
The use of drones in Sudan's nearly three-year civil war has dramatically escalated civilian casualties and destruction. Both the SAF and RSF have deployed drones to overcome traditional air dominance, resulting in indiscriminate strikes on markets, schools, hospitals, and residential areas. This shift in warfare technology has intensified the humanitarian crisis, with over 200 civilian deaths reported since early March alone.
The Role of External Actors and Proxy Dynamics
The US designation of the Sudanese Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist organization highlights the broader geopolitical entanglements. The Brotherhood's alleged ties to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and its deployment of over 20,000 fighters complicate the conflict, intertwining local violence with regional power struggles. This designation aims to cut off financial and military support but risks further polarizing factions within Sudan.
Humanitarian Consequences and International Response
The conflict has created the world's largest displacement and hunger crisis, with 21.2 million people facing acute food shortages and 12 million displaced. Despite UN warnings and calls for adherence to international humanitarian law, drone strikes continue unabated, undermining peace efforts. The ICC's investigation into war crimes and genocide allegations against the RSF underscores the severity of abuses.
Forecast and Implications
Without a ceasefire and effective international mediation, drone warfare will likely continue to devastate civilian populations and infrastructure. The US designation may pressure some groups but could also entrench divisions. The humanitarian crisis will deepen, requiring urgent aid access and conflict resolution to prevent further regional destabilization.
How we got here
Sudan's civil war began in April 2023 between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The conflict has caused tens of thousands of deaths and displaced over 11 million people. Both sides increasingly use drones, causing widespread civilian casualties and infrastructure damage. The US recently designated the Sudanese Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist group for its role in the conflict.
Our analysis
SBS and Reuters report on the March 12 drone strike near Sudan's border with Chad, where at least 11 people were burned to death and 23 injured, including children, highlighting the growing toll of drone attacks. The New Arab and UN statements emphasize over 200 civilian deaths from drones since March 4, with damage to markets, schools, and health facilities, underscoring the conflict's escalation. Al Jazeera details the RSF's attacks in White Nile state, including strikes on a secondary school and health clinic killing at least 17 civilians, and notes the ICC's probe into alleged war crimes and genocide by the RSF. US sources, including statements from Secretary of State Marco Rubio and the State Department, focus on the designation of the Sudanese Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist group, citing its violence against civilians and Iranian support, with reactions from Sudanese officials and regional actors like the UAE. Arab News and All Africa provide context on the designation's regional implications and the broader US strategy to counter terrorism and Iranian influence. These sources collectively illustrate the multifaceted nature of Sudan's conflict, combining local violence, international geopolitics, and humanitarian disaster.
Go deeper
- What is the role of drones in Sudan's conflict?
- Why did the US designate the Sudanese Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist group?
- How is the humanitarian crisis evolving in Sudan?
More on these topics
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Sudan - Country in North Africa
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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United States - Country in North America
The United States of America, commonly known as the United States or America, is a country mostly located in central North America, between Canada and Mexico.
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Muslim Brotherhood - Political party
The Society of the Muslim Brothers, better known as the Muslim Brotherhood, is a transnational Sunni Islamist organization founded in Egypt by Islamic scholar and schoolteacher Hassan al-Banna in 1928.
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Marco Rubio - United States Senator
Marco Antonio Rubio is an American attorney and politician currently serving as the senior United States Senator from Florida. A Republican, Rubio previously served as Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives.
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Iran - Country in the Middle East
Iran, also called Persia, and officially the Islamic Republic of Iran, is a country in Western Asia. It is bordered to the northwest by Armenia and Azerbaijan, to the north by the Caspian Sea, to the northeast by Turkmenistan, to the east by Afghanistan a
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Sudanese Armed Forces - Military
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
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Omar al-Bashir - Former President of Sudan
Omar Hassan Ahmad al-Bashir is a Sudanese politician who served as the seventh President of Sudan from 1989 to 2019, when he was deposed in a coup d'état. He was subsequently incarcerated, tried and convicted on multiple corruption charges.