Sudan’s RSF Intensifies Deadly Drone Attacks on North Kordofan Towns

In Sudan’s ongoing civil war, the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have recently stepped up drone attacks on towns held by the government in North Kordofan, a central state now caught on the frontline of the conflict. Residents report that these strikes have caused serious damage and deepened insecurity in the area.

One of the deadliest attacks took place on 8 September in Um Ruwaba, where a drone struck a crowded courthouse. Reports vary, but about a dozen civilians were killed and around 20 injured in the blast. The courthouse’s facade was heavily damaged, with columns at the entrance destroyed. The attack happened while people were attending to legal matters, making the impact particularly harsh.

The following day, a drone hit a college in El Obeid, the state capital. The strike destroyed the roof, killed a security guard, and damaged several classrooms. Students and staff described the scene as devastating, saying the attack shattered their hopes and future prospects.

These attacks come after a period when the RSF had appeared to reduce drone strikes, reportedly due to international pressure. However, the recent surge suggests the group has renewed its drone campaign. Both the RSF and Sudanese Armed Forces have been using drones extensively in this three-and-a-half-year conflict, with the United Nations reporting that drone strikes caused the majority of civilian deaths in the first half of 2026.

The Sudanese army claims to have repelled some RSF drone attacks on El Obeid and shot down an FH-95 drone, but independent verification of these claims is limited. Meanwhile, civilians continue to suffer the consequences, with attacks targeting not only people but also schools, courts, hospitals, markets, and fuel stations, worsening access to essential services.

The increased use of drones has made the conflict deadlier and more unpredictable, especially as it spreads across various regions of Sudan. The fighting has displaced millions and created one of the world’s largest humanitarian crises.

The UN and other international bodies have called urgently for an end to attacks on civilians and infrastructure, emphasising the need for humanitarian aid and protection for those caught in the violence. However, as the RSF and government forces continue their drone warfare, the people of North Kordofan face a grim and uncertain future.