Two separate drone strikes in Sudan have killed at least 21 people and injured dozens more this week as the conflict between the military and paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) escalates. The first strike, blamed on the RSF, targeted a secondary school and healthcare center in the village of Shukeiri in Sudan's White Nile province on Wednesday, killing 17 people, including female students, teachers, and health workers.
Key Takeaways
Two separate drone strikes in Sudan have killed at least 21 people and injured dozens more this week. The first strike targeted a school and healthcare center in White Nile province, killing 17, while the second hit a market near Chad's border, killing four. Both attacks are part of an escalating conflict between the military and paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
- Two drone strikes this week killed at least 21 people in Sudan.
- First strike targeted school and healthcare center in White Nile province.
- Second strike hit market near Chad's border, killing four.
- Attacks blamed on RSF and military respectively.
- Conflict has resulted in over 40,000 deaths since April 2023.
The attack wounded at least 10 people, with three girls suffering serious injuries. Two underwent surgeries at Douiem Hospital, while the third was evacuated to Khartoum for treatment. The Sudan Doctors Network first reported the strike, indicating there was no military presence in the village. Both the medical group and Dr. Musa al-Majeri, director of the nearest major medical facility, blamed the RSF for the attack.
The second drone strike occurred on Thursday near Sudan’s border with Chad in the Darfur region, targeting a market in Adikong. This strike killed four people and wounded over two dozen civilians, according to Doctors Without Borders (MSF). The medical group blamed the strike on the army, stating that the drone hit fuel reserves at the Adikong border market.
Gado Mahamadou, MSF head of mission in Chad, reported that 23 people were injured, including seven children and four women. This marks the second fatal drone strike in Adikong in less than a month. The Sudanese military has not released an official statement about the Thursday strike, but two anonymous officials mentioned military operations targeting the RSF in the area.
The war in Sudan began as a power struggle between the military and the RSF in April 2023, resulting in over 40,000 deaths, according to UN figures. Aid groups suggest this number could be significantly higher. The conflict has been marked by atrocities including mass killings, gang rapes, and other crimes investigated as potential war crimes and crimes against humanity.
The most recent atrocities occurred in October when the RSF overran the Darfur city of el-Fasher, with at least 6,000 people killed in three days. The UN's Human Rights Office described the attack as bearing 'hallmarks of genocide.' Drone warfare has intensified the humanitarian catastrophe by making safe aid delivery and emergency response virtually impossible in some areas.
According to Sky News analysis, there have been at least 198 drone strikes in Sudan launched by both sides in the first two months of 2026, with at least 52 involving civilian casualties and killing 478 people. The escalating violence has led to border closures and deportations, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis.
The U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) warned that increasing drone strikes across Sudan are exacting a growing toll on civilians. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk expressed appall at the rising number of drone attacks, citing reports that more than 200 civilians have been killed by drones since March 4 alone in the Kordofan region and White Nile state.
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