At least 28 civilians have been killed in Sudan's ongoing drone strikes, with two separate incidents reported in the Darfur and Kordofan regions. The strikes, which have been ongoing for months, have resulted in a significant toll on civilians, surpassing 500 victims this year alone. Health workers in two cities, over 800 kilometers apart, reported the latest deaths via satellite internet connection due to a communications blackout.
The repeated pleas from the United Nations to curtail drone attacks and protect civilians have fallen on deaf ears. Sudan's warring sides, the regular army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), have launched near-daily strikes, killing dozens at a time. The RSF has been accused of launching a drone strike in North Kordofan, killing six people and injuring 10 others.
The UN has expressed concern over the marked increase in drone warfare, citing its devastating impact on populated areas. The UN rights office has noted that the use of high-tech and relatively cheap weapons in populated areas has resulted in a significant number of civilian casualties.
The Sudanese government's failure to heed the UN's repeated pleas for a truce and protection of civilians is a grave concern. The continued drone strikes by both the army and the RSF have resulted in the loss of countless lives and displacement of millions. The use of drones in populated areas is a clear indication of the devastating impact of modern warfare on civilians. The international community must hold Sudan's warring sides accountable for their actions and work towards a peaceful resolution to the conflict. The UN's special envoy for Sudan, Pekka Haavisto, must push for concrete actions to protect civilians and bring an end to the violence.
