Drone strike by Sudan paramilitary kills 41 near Ethiopian border, rights group says
A drone strike by Sudan's paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) killed 41 people in the Blue Nile region near the Ethiopian border on Friday. The attack targeted a camp for displaced people in Abu Shandi, with the United Nations warning that most of those killed were reportedly women and children. This incident deepens the devastating toll of Sudan's ongoing conflict, which has become one of the world's worst humanitarian crises.
The Sudanese conflict between the army and RSF has raged since 2023, killing hundreds of thousands and displacing over 14 million people. The Blue Nile region where the strike occurred has been under sustained attack in recent weeks, forcing thousands more to flee. Both sides have been accused of using drone strikes, with the army controlling much of central and eastern Sudan whilst the RSF is headquartered in the western region of Darfur.
- Drone strike by Sudan paramilitary RSF killed 41 in Blue Nile region camps.
- Sudan conflict since 2023: army versus RSF killed hundreds of thousands, displaced 14 million.
- UN says most victims were women and children; area under sustained attack for weeks.
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Sudan has been locked in conflict since 2023 between the army and a paramilitary group called the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The RSF is primarily based in Darfur, Sudan's western region, whilst the army controls much of the centre and east. This war has killed hundreds of thousands of people and displaced over 14 million, making it one of the world's worst humanitarian emergencies.
The Blue Nile region, located near the Ethiopian border, has seen particularly intense fighting in recent weeks as both sides battle for control. Civilian populations have been forced to flee, with many sheltering in camps for displaced people who have lost their homes and livelihoods. Both the army and RSF have been documented using drone strikes as part of their military operations, adding to the dangers faced by those caught in the conflict.