Sudan: Dozens Dead and Injured After Drone Attack on Market in Kordofan

SadaNews - At least 11 civilians have been killed and dozens injured following a drone attack that targeted the main market in the Abu Zaimah area of North Kordofan state in central Sudan, in the latest wave of attacks hitting conflict areas in the region.

The independent "Emergency Lawyers" authority reported that the drone targeted the market in the Hamra al-Sheikh district, resulting in 11 deaths and dozens of injuries in a preliminary tally likely to rise, noting that the attack occurred less than 24 hours after similar attacks on villages and a civilian vehicle in the same area.

The authority stated that targeting civilians and civilian objects represents a dangerous escalation in the pace of violence, calling for an end to these attacks and accountability for those responsible.

Abu Zaimah is in an area controlled by the Rapid Support Forces, while North Kordofan state is experiencing ongoing battles with the Sudanese army seeking to regain control over several strategic sites.

The authority did not hold either side of the conflict responsible for the attack, nor did the army or Rapid Support Forces immediately comment.

In a separate incident, witnesses reported that a drone targeted a fuel station in the city of Al-Obeid, the capital of North Kordofan, which has been under siege by Rapid Support Forces for months, while a medical source confirmed that four people were injured as a result of the attack.

These developments come after a bloody week in Kordofan, where a series of airstrikes resulted in the deaths of around 70 people, according to Agence France-Presse.

The United Nations had also warned last May of the increasing use of drones in the region, indicating that they had claimed the lives of at least 880 civilians between January and April 2026.

The three Kordofan states have been witnessing violent clashes between the Sudanese army and Rapid Support Forces since October 2025, as part of an ongoing war that has left tens of thousands dead and more than 13 million displaced, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis and famine in large parts of Sudan, particularly in Darfur and Kordofan.