Sudan army drone strikes kill over 300 mourners and market-goers in West Kordofan

Sudan's army has been accused of launching drone strikes that resulted in the deaths of more than 300 people in West Kordofan state. The attacks occurred on Sunday evening and Monday, targeting a truck carrying mourners to a funeral and a market alleged to be supplying fuel to the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

According to the Sudan War Observatory, the death toll from the initial strikes on Sunday was reported to be 150, with the majority of the casualties occurring when a truck carrying approximately 200 mourners was struck as it arrived in Al-Dabab, West Kordofan. The monitoring group indicated that 145 people were killed in this attack, with an additional five fatalities occurring at a tent where mourners had gathered. Furthermore, around 150 individuals were injured in the strikes.

On Monday, another drone strike hit a market in the town of Al-Mujlad, also in West Kordofan. The precise number of deaths and injuries from this attack is still being assessed. Reports from the region's information minister indicated that 153 people were killed in the attack on the market in Abyei, a disputed border area between Sudan and South Sudan. The minister described the situation as "horrible and shocking." This market is located approximately 10 kilometers from Abyei town.

A military source confirmed to the BBC that the army had conducted the attack on the Abyei market, asserting that it was a known fuel supply site for the RSF. The use of drones in these attacks has raised concerns regarding the escalation of violence in the region, particularly given the ongoing conflict between the Sudanese army and the RSF, which has been ongoing since 2023.

The armed drone strikes have come amid a worsening humanitarian crisis in Sudan, with the United Nations reporting that 20 million people are facing acute hunger, with famine risks increasing in parts of the western region of Darfur and Greater Kordofan. The conflict has resulted in the deaths of hundreds of thousands and displaced more than 14 million people from their homes.

In response to the attacks, South Sudan has summoned Sudan's ambassador to lodge a formal protest, indicating rising tensions between the two nations over the ownership of Abyei, which has been a point of contention since South Sudan gained independence in 2011. The situation remains fluid, with fears that the conflict could spill over the border into South Sudan.

The Sudanese army has not officially responded to the allegations regarding the drone strikes targeting civilians. However, they have previously stated that they do not intentionally attack civilians, even if they believe RSF fighters are present among them. The continued use of drone warfare in Sudan has raised alarms among international observers, including the UN, which has condemned the strikes for causing civilian casualties and disrupting essential services.

This recent surge in violence marks a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict in Sudan, highlighting the dire humanitarian situation and the urgent need for a resolution to the hostilities that have plagued the region.