A drone strike on a busy market in central Sudan’s Kordofan region has killed at least 28 people and wounded dozens more, rights groups say. The bombing struck the al-Safiya market in the town of Sodari on Sunday when it was crowded with civilians.
According to Daljoog News analysis, the attack underscores the increasing use of drones in Sudan’s three-year civil conflict, with both the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) escalating strikes in densely populated areas. This tactic has deepened the humanitarian crisis in the region.
The Kordofan region, a vital corridor linking Darfur to the capital, Khartoum, has become one of the most dangerous fronts in Sudan’s ongoing civil war, exposing civilians to repeated and deadly attacks.
What Happened?
Emergency Lawyers, a rights group monitoring civilian harm, said the drone strike targeted al-Safiya market in Sodari, North Kordofan. The attack occurred during peak market hours, putting women, children, and the elderly at particular risk.
The group warned that repeated drone use against populated areas signals a grave disregard for civilian lives and called for an immediate halt to all drone strikes in the conflict.
Sodari sits along a key desert trade route, 230km northwest of El-Obeid, the state capital. Control over this corridor is strategic, linking RSF-held Darfur with army-controlled central Sudan. Both sides have increasingly relied on drones to dominate this contested east-west axis.
Emergency Lawyers claimed the drones used in Sunday’s attack were army-operated. Military officials, speaking anonymously, denied targeting civilian infrastructure.
The attack comes after another drone strike near Rahad killed at least 24 people, including eight children, and followed the targeting of a World Food Programme convoy.
Why This Matters
Sudan’s civil war, which erupted in April 2023 between the Sudanese army and the RSF, has killed at least 40,000 people and displaced 12 million, according to the World Health Organization. Aid organizations warn the true death toll may be far higher due to restricted access in remote regions.
The Kordofan region’s strategic importance has made it a focal point of fighting, directly impacting civilians who live along key trade and supply routes. Repeated attacks on markets and aid convoys amplify food insecurity and hinder humanitarian relief.
The escalating drone strikes demonstrate a shift in tactics, as both sides increasingly target densely populated areas, raising serious concerns over potential violations of international humanitarian law.
What Analysts or Officials Are Saying
The United Nations human rights chief described Kordofan as “volatile and a focus of hostilities,” highlighting the difficulty of protecting civilians in contested zones.
A recent UN Human Rights Office report detailed atrocities by the RSF in Darfur in October, noting that more than 6,000 people were killed in three days. The report cited actions amounting to war crimes and possible crimes against humanity during the RSF attempts to capture el-Fasher.
Observers say the growing use of drones, coupled with widespread displacement and the division of Sudan into RSF-controlled west and army-controlled centre, north, and east, has created one of the world’s most severe humanitarian crises.
Daljoog News Analysis
The attack in Sodari illustrates how modern warfare technology is intensifying Sudan’s civilian toll. Drones, once primarily used in surveillance or targeted operations, are increasingly striking public spaces, raising both legal and ethical concerns.
Kordofan’s strategic location has made it a target for both factions seeking to dominate trade routes and consolidate territorial control. The consequences extend beyond immediate casualties; repeated attacks on markets, convoys, and villages disrupt local economies, food supplies, and the daily life of communities.
The drone strikes also signal a dangerous precedent, normalizing attacks on civilian infrastructure in an environment already marked by lawlessness and minimal accountability. International monitoring and pressure may be key to limiting further escalation.
What Happens Next
Humanitarian groups warn that the conflict will continue to escalate unless both sides agree to cease hostilities. Further drone strikes are expected as the army and RSF battle for Kordofan’s strategic corridors.
UN agencies and rights organizations are calling for immediate civilian protection and unimpeded access for aid. The continuation of attacks threatens not only lives but also the possibility of stabilizing Sudan amid a protracted and deeply fragmented civil war.
Authorities and international actors will be watching whether either faction responds to mounting pressure to restrict drone use, as each attack risks further inflaming an already dire humanitarian situation.
