A drone strike in southeastern Sudan has resulted in the deaths of at least 30 displaced individuals, including women and children, and has left dozens more injured. The governor of Wad al-Mahi province reported that the drone, allegedly linked to the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), targeted the area near a displacement camp. Governor Mahjoub Al-Sheikh stated that 26 women and four children were among the deceased and described the attack as 'cowardly'. He claimed the drone was launched from within Ethiopia, as reported by the AFP news agency.
Wadah Al-Tahir, a correspondent for Al Jazeera Arabic, noted that this incident is part of a series of drone strikes affecting the Blue Nile region, with the latest attack occurring near the city of Damazin. The strike took place close to a displacement camp and an informal gold mining site, where women work to extract gold using chemicals and manual labor.
The conflict between the Sudanese army and the RSF has intensified in the border region with Ethiopia, which is also experiencing its own internal issues. Sudan has accused Ethiopia of sheltering RSF fighters, a claim that Ethiopia has denied. Local reports indicate that the porous border is a significant supply route for the RSF and its allies.
The RSF has been advancing towards Damazin, which may complicate the Sudanese army's defense efforts, as they are already engaged on multiple fronts, including the Kordofan region. Since the onset of Sudan's civil war in April 2023, more than 200,000 people have reportedly died, leading to one of the largest hunger and displacement crises globally. The United Nations has indicated that nearly 100,000 individuals have been displaced in Blue Nile state this year alone.