Drone strike by Sudan paramilitary kills 41 near Ethiopian border, rights group says

A drone strike conducted by Sudan's Rapid Support Forces (RSF) resulted in the deaths of 41 individuals near the border with Ethiopia, according to a rights group. The attack targeted a camp housing displaced people in Abu Shandi, a state in Sudan's Blue Nile region, on Friday. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) expressed its shock over the reports, noting that the majority of victims were women and children.

Tensions between Sudan's Sudanese army and the RSF have escalated since 2023, leading to a conflict that has claimed hundreds of thousands of lives and displaced over 14 million people. The ongoing crisis has created one of the world's most pressing humanitarian emergencies, with millions requiring medical assistance. The Sudanese army maintains control over central and eastern regions, while the RSF, headquartered in Darfur's western area, also governs parts of the south.

Both entities have faced accusations of employing drone attacks in the region. The OCHA highlighted that the targeted area had been enduring persistent attacks for several weeks, displacing thousands and exposing many more to significant danger.