- Multiple drone strikes hit Port Sudan’s airport, port, and fuel facilities
- Conflict displaces over 13 million with 24k+ fatalities since 2023
- UN reports allege UAE arms shipments to RSF despite denials
- Strategic port city now central to humanitarian operations
The Rapid Support Forces (RSF) intensified Sudan’s two-year civil war this week with coordinated drone attacks on critical infrastructure in Port Sudan. Military officials confirm strikes damaged fuel storage sites near the maritime port, disrupting humanitarian supply chains for displaced populations. Thick plumes of black smoke visible in satellite imagery underscored the assault’s severity, though casualty figures remain unverified.
Analysts note this marks a tactical shift in modern African conflicts, where drone warfare enables rapid strikes on economic choke points. The targeted Sudan National Petroleum Corp facilities previously suffered attacks in January, revealing patterns of energy infrastructure targeting. Such strikes compound existing famine risks for 18 million food-insecure Sudanese.
Regional dynamics further complicate the crisis. Khartoum’s military government accuses Abu Dhabi of supplying RSF with Turkish Bayraktar drones – a claim the UAE vehemently denies. Meanwhile, Egypt continues backing Sudanese armed forces, creating proxy war tensions in the Red Sea region. The Darfur case study illustrates escalation risks: 2023’s Nyala airport bombardment triggered retaliatory strikes now threatening Port Sudan’s stability.
Humanitarian organizations report critical setbacks as the airport closure suspends aid flights. Over four million refugees previously relied on Port Sudan as their primary evacuation route. With 85% of Sudan’s hospitals nonfunctional and cholera outbreaks spreading, the latest attacks jeopardize last remaining governance structures. Information Minister Khalid Aleiser’s fiery response at the burning port site signals diminishing diplomatic options.
Economically, the assault threatens Sudan’s $3.5 billion oil export capacity. Planet Labs imagery shows fires at state-owned fuel depots that previously handled 60% of national petroleum reserves. This follows January’s destruction of Khartoum’s Al-Jaili refinery, cutting domestic fuel production by 70%. Experts warn such systematic infrastructure targeting could collapse Sudan’s currency within six months.
International responses remain fragmented. While the UN Security Council debates arms embargo resolutions, displaced communities face dire conditions. Médecins Sans Frontières reports treating 400+ conflict injury cases weekly in Port Sudan clinics, with women and children comprising 68% of casualties. As drone warfare reshapes conflict zones globally, Sudan’s crisis offers sobering lessons about urban warfare’s humanitarian costs.
