Paramilitary drones attack Sudan’s Blue Nile state capital near Ethiopia

Since April 2023, the war between Sudan's army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has claimed more than 200,000 lives and sparked the world's largest hunger and displacement crises, according to aid workers. The Blue Nile state capital, Al-Damazin, located near the border with Ethiopia, was recently targeted by paramilitary drone strikes.

Residents reported waking up to explosions and a fire after a drone crashed near the airport. The Sudanese army responded with anti-aircraft missiles, and authorities stated that the situation was under control.

Al-Damazin has largely remained safe during the conflict, but the RSF and their allies have launched a powerful offensive along the Ethiopian border and northward towards the city. This year alone, the fighting has displaced nearly 100,000 people in the state, with almost half seeking refuge in Al-Damazin. The RSF has frequently accused Ethiopia of harboring their fighters, though Ethiopia denies these claims.

Both sides control different parts of the Blue Nile state, with the RSF and the Sudan People's Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N) holding the southern region, which borders both Ethiopia and South Sudan.