Paramilitary fighters in Sudan have launched a new and intense phase of the country’s civil war, marked by a series of unprecedented drone attacks on Port Sudan following their loss of the capital, Khartoum. The Rapid Support Forces (RSF), after being driven out of central Sudan, have escalated their drone warfare, targeting key civilian infrastructure, including power stations and fuel depots. These strikes have caused widespread power outages and water shortages, severely impacting the eastern port city, which was previously considered a safe haven for government officials, diplomats, and humanitarian groups.
Experts describe this as a significant escalation, with Alan Boswell of the International Crisis Group calling it a “shock and awe campaign” that raises the stakes in the conflict. The RSF’s drone strikes demonstrate their ability to sustain the fight despite territorial losses, signaling a shift towards remote warfare and highlighting the growing use of advanced unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in Africa’s ongoing conflict. Since the war began three years ago as a power struggle between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the RSF, the conflict has drawn in various armed groups and foreign backers, creating what the UN has termed the world’s worst humanitarian crisis.
Drones have played a crucial role on both sides, with the army using UAVs to advance earlier this year, while the RSF increased its drone attacks as it retreated to its traditional strongholds in western Sudan. Recently, the RSF targeted critical infrastructure in army-controlled zones, including a coordinated drone attack on three power stations in Omdurman, across the Nile from Khartoum, causing widespread electricity failures. The RSF’s focus on Port Sudan aims to undermine the government’s control by creating persistent security crises, demonstrating that although the army retook Khartoum, it cannot govern effectively without addressing the ongoing RSF threat.
The paramilitary group has not officially commented on the Port Sudan attacks but continues to accuse the SAF of war crimes and alleges Iranian support for the army. Both sides face accusations of war crimes, with the RSF particularly implicated in serious violations such as mass rape and genocide. The RSF’s drone tactics have evolved, employing kamikaze-style loitering drones capable of coordinated attacks. Satellite imagery and research indicate these drones may be advanced Chinese-made CH-95s, capable of long-range strikes, marking a significant technological advancement in the conflict.
The South Darfur airport, a key RSF base, has been repeatedly bombed by the SAF, suggesting the drone attacks on Port Sudan may partly be retaliatory. This drone warfare highlights the vital role of foreign support, with evidence pointing to the United Arab Emirates supplying drones to the RSF, despite the UAE’s denials and diplomatic fallout, including Sudan severing ties with Abu Dhabi. Similarly, Iran is suspected of supplying weapons to the SAF, with Turkish firms implicated in drone sales, though both countries deny involvement.
The RSF’s ability to strike strategic targets hundreds of kilometers away, including Port Sudan’s international airport and fuel depots, disrupts army supply lines and jeopardizes humanitarian aid, complicating the UN’s relief efforts. Experts warn this escalation could lead to more civilian casualties and destabilize the Red Sea region. The unprecedented drone attacks challenge traditional power dynamics in Sudan’s war, with the RSF closing the air power gap against the better-equipped army, redefining the conflict and drawing comparisons to the drone warfare seen in the Russia-Ukraine war.
The Sudanese government has called on international actors to take action against what it calls the regional sponsors of the militia, referring to the UAE. Analysts stress that without serious diplomatic intervention involving the UAE and Sudan’s military, the conflict is likely to continue for years, with evolving tactics and increasing use of advanced technology shaping the future of the war and its devastating humanitarian impact.
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