UN demands immediate end to drone attacks in Sudan as civilian deaths mount

The United Nations has demanded an immediate cessation of drone attacks in Sudan, citing them as the primary cause of civilian deaths during the country's ongoing civil war. The conflict has escalated in the Kordofan region, where both the Sudanese military and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) are vying for territorial control. Three and a half years of fighting have resulted in tens of thousands of fatalities and the displacement of millions.

Rosemary DiCarlo, UN undersecretary general for political and peacebuilding affairs, urged the warring parties to agree on strict regulations for drone usage, emphasizing the potential for a mutual ban to significantly enhance civilian protection. She condemned a recent drone strike on October 3, which killed a World Food Programme driver while he was transporting lorries with required permits.

DiCarlo also criticized the Sudanese parties for their lack of progress towards dialogue, stating that they appear more focused on battlefield gains and external support than on negotiating peace.

Sudan's de facto leader, Gen Abdel Fattah Al Burhan, assured US President Donald Trump of his commitment to peace, despite months of ongoing negotiations. Britain's deputy UN ambassador, Kate Foster, called for stricter sanctions against nations providing weapons and financial backing to the warring factions, highlighting that the conflict's drone capabilities are sourced and sustained through external networks.

She also urged the Security Council to revise its sanctions regime to better address the modern methods of warfare being employed.

Kate Foster and other UN officials have called for an immediate humanitarian truce in Sudan, along with the expansion of the Security Council's arms embargo. They argue that continued weapons supplies exacerbate the conflict, impede peace negotiations, and hinder efforts to protect civilians.