Residents of North Kordofan say the conflict‑torn state has entered a new phase of violence as the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) step up drone strikes on government‑held towns. The attacks, which have hit a crowded courtroom in Um Ruwaba and a college in al‑Obeid, have left dozens injured, destroyed vital buildings and heightened fear among civilians.
Courthouse strike in Um Ruwaba
On September 8, a drone hit the main courtroom in Um Ruwaba, a government‑controlled town that sits on one of the war’s front lines. Emergency Lawyers, a human‑rights monitor, reported that about ten people were killed and many more were wounded. When Reuters arrived, the building’s façade was blown away and the front columns were shattered.
College hit in al‑Obeid
A day later, a second drone struck the state capital, al‑Obeid, targeting the roof of a local college. Dean Abdel Aziz al‑Sheikh stood amid the rubble as workers cleared debris. He confirmed that a security guard was killed and eight classrooms were damaged. Student Omnia Aboul Gassim, who had taken exams there the day before, said, “Our dreams and our future feel destroyed.”
Personal accounts of the terror
Survivors describe living under constant drone threat. Salah Bakheit, who fled al‑Obeid after earlier RSF drone bombings, arrived in Um Ruwaba seeking shelter. His arm was shattered by shrapnel from the courthouse attack. “When I heard the blast I knew it was a strategic drone,” he said. “I have lived with both strategic and suicide drones and can tell them apart.”
RSF response and broader context
The RSF has not commented on the recent strikes, but it previously asserted that it does not intentionally target civilians. Drones have become a primary weapon for both the RSF and the Sudanese army in the three‑and‑a‑half‑year civil war, mirroring tactics seen in other conflicts such as Ukraine. The United Nations estimates that drone attacks by both sides have killed more than 1,000 civilians in the first half of this year.
Impact on daily life
These attacks have disrupted normal life in the frontline cities. Schools, courts and medical facilities have been damaged, forcing residents to seek safety elsewhere and undermining access to essential services. The heightened insecurity has also strained humanitarian efforts, as aid workers face increased risk navigating a landscape where aerial strikes can occur without warning.
International pressure and future outlook
Earlier weeks saw a temporary reduction in drone use after international calls for restraint, but the recent surge suggests the RSF is resuming its aerial campaign. Observers warn that continued drone warfare could further erode any prospects for a negotiated settlement and deepen the humanitarian crisis across Sudan’s central region.
For now, families in Um Ruwaba, al‑Obeid and surrounding towns remain on edge, hoping for an end to the aerial onslaught and a return to stability.
Original reporting: Appleton, WI News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
