Dozens of civilians killed in RSF attacks in Sudan amid escalation of violence

Dozens of civilians killed in RSF attacks in Sudan amid escalation of violence
———————————————
Dozens of Sudanese civilians have been reported killed and many more wounded amid an escalation of drone and aerial strikes linked to the ongoing civil war between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The conflict, now in its fourth year, has seen increasing reliance on unmanned weapons systems, which a United Nations human rights office has described as the leading cause of civilian fatalities.

According to recent reports by local political parties, an RSF‑linked drone strike in West Kordofan on May 31 allegedly killed at least 10 civilians, including children, and injured others when two vehicles carrying civilians were struck on a public road, drawing condemnation from the opposition National Umma Party. The party described the attack as a violation of international humanitarian law and called for greater protection of civilians.

Meanwhile, Sudan Doctors Network and other medical sources reported earlier RSF drone attacks in southern and central Kordofan, including strikes on residential neighbourhoods that injured scores of civilians, among them children.

Human rights observers note that drone strikes accounted for a significant share of civilian deaths early in 2026, with hundreds reportedly killed in similar incidents in South and North Kordofan provinces, underscoring how unmanned systems have reshaped the conflict’s toll on non‑combatants.