Sudan's Civil War Escalates with Drone Attacks
The ongoing conflict in Sudan has taken a deadly turn, with drones being used extensively by both sides of the warring factions. Since April 2023, drone attacks have resulted in over 1,000 incidents, causing widespread destruction and civilian casualties.
The Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a paramilitary group linked to the Sudanese government, has been accused of using drones in its attacks on civilians and infrastructure. The RSF's use of drones has shifted the balance of power away from the Sudanese army, which previously controlled the skies with its fighter jets.
According to an Al Jazeera investigation, the RSF has access to a range of drones, including Chinese-made Wing Loong II and Turkish Bayraktar TB2. These drones have a range of up to 4,000km and can deliver artillery-level firepower without needing personnel on the ground. The RSF's use of these drones has allowed it to strike targets in Sudan and beyond, with some reports suggesting that they have even been used in high-profile attacks in other countries.
The Sudanese army, on the other hand, uses drones supplied by Iran, including the Mohajer-6 combat UAV. However, the SAF's access to these drones is limited compared to the RSF's, and it has struggled to counter the RSF's drone-based attacks.
The use of drones in Sudan's conflict raises significant concerns about the humanitarian impact of the war. The attacks have resulted in civilian casualties, damaged infrastructure, and plunged cities into darkness. The situation on the ground is dire, with many civilians forced to flee their homes due to the ongoing violence.
The supply chain for these drones is complex and involves multiple foreign actors, including Egypt, Russia, Iran, and Turkey. Foreign states are exploiting the situation to their advantage, providing drone technology and military support to both sides of the conflict.
The RSF's use of commercial quadcopters, repurposed agricultural or logistics drones, and modified platforms has allowed it to adapt to the changing nature of warfare. This ingenuity has enabled the group to deliver devastating effects without needing personnel on the ground.
However, experts warn that this adaptation comes at a significant cost, with the RSF's use of drones contributing to the perpetuation of a cycle of violence and impunity in Sudan.
The UAE is also accused of arming the RSF, despite Abu Dhabi's denials. The RSF has reportedly received drone technology and military support through various transit points, including eastern Chad, South Sudan, southeastern Libya, northeastern Somalia, and the Central African Republic.
As the situation in Sudan continues to deteriorate, it is essential that the international community takes action to address the humanitarian crisis and promote a peaceful resolution to the conflict. The use of drones in this conflict highlights the need for greater transparency and accountability from foreign states and military groups involved in the conflict.
The ongoing conflict in Sudan has taken a deadly turn, with drones being used extensively by both sides of the warring factions. Since April 2023, drone attacks have resulted in over 1,000 incidents, causing widespread destruction and civilian casualties.
The Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a paramilitary group linked to the Sudanese government, has been accused of using drones in its attacks on civilians and infrastructure. The RSF's use of drones has shifted the balance of power away from the Sudanese army, which previously controlled the skies with its fighter jets.
According to an Al Jazeera investigation, the RSF has access to a range of drones, including Chinese-made Wing Loong II and Turkish Bayraktar TB2. These drones have a range of up to 4,000km and can deliver artillery-level firepower without needing personnel on the ground. The RSF's use of these drones has allowed it to strike targets in Sudan and beyond, with some reports suggesting that they have even been used in high-profile attacks in other countries.
The Sudanese army, on the other hand, uses drones supplied by Iran, including the Mohajer-6 combat UAV. However, the SAF's access to these drones is limited compared to the RSF's, and it has struggled to counter the RSF's drone-based attacks.
The use of drones in Sudan's conflict raises significant concerns about the humanitarian impact of the war. The attacks have resulted in civilian casualties, damaged infrastructure, and plunged cities into darkness. The situation on the ground is dire, with many civilians forced to flee their homes due to the ongoing violence.
The supply chain for these drones is complex and involves multiple foreign actors, including Egypt, Russia, Iran, and Turkey. Foreign states are exploiting the situation to their advantage, providing drone technology and military support to both sides of the conflict.
The RSF's use of commercial quadcopters, repurposed agricultural or logistics drones, and modified platforms has allowed it to adapt to the changing nature of warfare. This ingenuity has enabled the group to deliver devastating effects without needing personnel on the ground.
However, experts warn that this adaptation comes at a significant cost, with the RSF's use of drones contributing to the perpetuation of a cycle of violence and impunity in Sudan.
The UAE is also accused of arming the RSF, despite Abu Dhabi's denials. The RSF has reportedly received drone technology and military support through various transit points, including eastern Chad, South Sudan, southeastern Libya, northeastern Somalia, and the Central African Republic.
As the situation in Sudan continues to deteriorate, it is essential that the international community takes action to address the humanitarian crisis and promote a peaceful resolution to the conflict. The use of drones in this conflict highlights the need for greater transparency and accountability from foreign states and military groups involved in the conflict.
... Sudan's civil war has reached a whole new level with these drone attacks, it's just insane how much destruction they're causing and who's getting hurt - civilians, infrastructure, all of it... 
And the fact that foreign states are arming both sides is just messed up... How can we expect peace to happen when everyone's just backing each other up? 
the situation in sudan is getting crazy with these drone attacks 
it's like they're playing a game of 'drone war' up there and it's super scary for civilians on the ground 
they don't deserve to be caught in the middle of all this violence 
i'm not sure if anyone's doing enough to stop this cycle of violence and impunity... 
. I mean, we're talking about countries like Egypt and Russia just sitting back and profiting off the chaos in Sudan. Meanwhile, Abu Dhabi's giving drones to some militia group (the RSF), but they're not saying where it's coming from 
. And now the UAE is denying any involvement, which is just laughable 
.
. The international community needs to step up and demand some answers. This isn't just about Sudan; it's about the global arms trade and who benefits from these conflicts 
. The humanitarian crisis in Sudan needs urgent attention, but we need to do more than just send empty words – we need real action 
.
1,000+ drone attacks in Sudan since April 2023? That's insane! 
It's not surprising the SAF is struggling to counter these attacks 
Stats: Drone attacks in Sudan increased by 500% between April 2023 and Jan 2025 
. Civilian casualties & infrastructure damage are through the roof 
. The situation on the ground is dire, with over 100k displaced persons 
Map of drone supply chain: Egypt, Russia, Iran, Turkey... 
it's a global problem! 
Foreign states exploiting the situation for their own gain 
Stats: 75% of RSF fighters use drones in combat 
. Experts say this perpetuates violence & impunity in Sudan 
.
. The humanitarian crisis needs a peaceful resolution ASAP 
. The fact that foreign states are exploiting this situation for their own gain is wild 
.
This escalation of drone attacks in Sudan is super concerning! The fact that these advanced drones are being used by both sides, including commercial quadcopters repurposed for warfare, is just wild 
. I mean, the impact on civilians can't be overstated - all these drone attacks have caused so much destruction and chaos in cities 
. It's not just about the drones themselves, but also who's supplying them and how that supply chain works 
. I'm calling on the international community to step up and demand more transparency from these countries involved 
. We can't let our inaction fuel this cycle of violence any longer 
.
. And can we talk about how these foreign states are exploiting this situation for their own gain? It's like, we need to hold everyone accountable here 
. We gotta get some real solutions to this crisis, ASAP 
.
and also get some answers from these foreign states who are basically fueling the fire 
. Meanwhile, the sudanese army has limited access to iranian drones like mohajer-6 & its struggling to counter the RSF's attacks 
. The supply chain for these drones is super complex & foreign states are exploiting this conflict for their own gain 
.
but it also perpetuates a cycle of violence & impunity. We need to hold those involved accountable & promote peace 
. The international community needs to take action ASAP to address this humanitarian crisis & bring an end to the conflict 
but at least some people are using drones for good lol like the iranians with their mohajer-6s maybe they can help bring peace to sudan? 