Key facts
- Sudan's paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have intensified drone attacks in government-held towns in North Kordofan.
- On September 8, a drone attack on a courtroom in Um Ruwaba killed 10 people and injured dozens.
- A day later, a drone struck a college in al-Obeid, killing one security guard and damaging classrooms.
- Drones have become an increasingly common weapon in Sudan's civil war, with both the RSF and the Sudanese army using them.
- The UN reports that drone attacks by both sides killed over 1,000 civilians in the first half of the year.
Sudan's paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have intensified drone attacks in government-held towns in the frontline state of North Kordofan, disrupting normal life and causing a deep sense of insecurity, residents told Reuters. The RSF did not respond to a request for comment but has previously stated it does not intentionally target civilians.
Drones have become an increasingly prevalent weapon in Sudan's civil war, with both the RSF and the Sudanese army deploying technologies similar to those used in other conflict zones. According to the UN, drone attacks by both sides resulted in over 1,000 civilian deaths in the first half of this year.
On September 8, a drone struck a crowded courtroom in the government-held town of Um Ruwaba, killing approximately 10 people and injuring dozens, according to Emergency Lawyers, a human rights monitor. Reuters observed extensive damage to the building's facade and columns.
The following day, a drone hit a college in al-Obeid, the state capital, causing significant damage to the roof. The dean of the college, Abdel Aziz al-Sheikh, stated that a security guard was killed and eight classrooms were damaged. Omnia Aboul Gassim, a student, described the destruction of the faculty as the destruction of dreams and futures.
Salah Bakheit, who was injured in the Um Ruwaba courthouse attack, had fled al-Obeid after it was subjected to months of RSF drone bombardment. He described being able to distinguish between different types of drones, including strategic and suicide drones.