A new report from the United Nations says drone strikes in Sudan have killed at least 880 civilians between January and April of this year. The UN warns the increasing use of drones is pushing the conflict into a dangerous new phase.
The drone strikes have been carried out by both Sudan's army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, who have been locked in a civil war since April 2023. According to the UN rights office, drone strikes accounted for more than 80% of all conflict-related civilian deaths during those four months.
UN rights chief Volker Türk said armed drones have become the leading cause of civilian death. He noted that drones now allow fighting to continue unabated through the rainy season, something that wasn't possible before.
Most of the drone attacks on civilians were recorded in the Kordofan and Darfur regions, but strikes also spreading into Blue Nile, White Nile, and the capital, Khartoum. The most recent strike-on May 8th-hit targets in South and North Kordofan, reportedly killing 26 civilians.
The UN says belligerents have used drones to repeatedly target civilian infrastructure, including markets and hospitals. At least 28 market attacks this year have led to civilian casualties.
Türk warned that without immediate action, the conflict-which has killed tens of thousands, displaced over 11 million people, and created famine conditions-will likely enter an even deadlier phase.