Drone Strike in Sudan's Abu Zaeima Market Claims 11 Lives

Fatal Drone Strike in Central Sudan

A drone strike on Saturday targeting a bustling market in Abu Zaeima, a town in North Kordofan state, has resulted in the deaths of at least 11 individuals, with many others suffering injuries. This tragic event highlights the ongoing violence that has engulfed Sudan since conflict erupted between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in April 2023.

Details of the Attack

According to reports from the rights group Emergency Lawyers, which has been monitoring the situation closely, the assault occurred just a day after similar drone strikes in nearby areas, raising concerns about the increasing frequency of aerial attacks. The group indicated that the casualty numbers could escalate as the situation develops, but it has not confirmed the party responsible for the attack, as both the army and RSF have remained silent on this specific incident.

In a separate yet related incident, witnesses reported another drone strike targeting a fuel station in el-Obeid, the capital of North Kordofan, where rescue efforts were ongoing and casualties reported.

Rising Civilian Casualties

Emergency Lawyers criticized the continued targeting of civilians, calling it a blatant violation of international humanitarian law. They stressed that such attacks must not become routine and demanded accountability for those responsible for the loss of innocent lives. The rights group highlighted that nearly 70 fatalities have been reported in a series of drone strikes in West and North Kordofan in just the past week alone. In a broader context, the UN reported that over 880 civilians have died from drone strikes across the country from January to April of this year.

The deteriorating situation in Sudan has created one of the most severe humanitarian crises globally, with tens of thousands killed and nearly 13 million displaced amid escalating violence. As fighting intensifies in regions like Kordofan, currently rich in oil and arable land, reports indicate that the RSF has successfully captured strategic locations previously held by the military.