RSF drones destroy five Sudan power stations
Coordinated strikes in three army-held states left millions without electricity and threatened essential medical supplies.
By Jabari Long ·
The Rapid Support Forces launched a coordinated drone assault on five power stations in eastern Sudan on October 26, causing widespread blackouts across three states. A government official stated that the paramilitary group targeted two stations in Al-Jazira and Gedaref and one in White Nile state. The strikes resulted in power outages across large parts of these regions, which remain under the control of the Sudanese army.
The army and the RSF have been at war since April 2023. The conflict is currently fought primarily through sophisticated drone attacks by both sides. In the first three weeks of October alone, these strikes killed more than 300 people and injured hundreds more, according to United Nations tallies. The war has killed an estimated 200,000 people in Africa’s third-largest country, which is home to roughly 50 million residents.
The loss of electricity has immediate consequences for residents relying on home refrigeration. Babiker Youssef, a resident of Al-Fao in Gedaref, reported that the power had been out since early morning. His son is diabetic and requires insulin storage in a fridge. Youssef expressed fear that he could not replace the medication if it spoiled and said there was no knowledge of when electricity would return.
Agricultural operations in Al-Jazira also suffered from the strike. Abdelhafez Daafallah, a 54-year-old farmer in Al-Junaid, noted that electricity had only begun to improve three months prior. A recently repaired power station was destroyed by the militia, halting the irrigation pumps he needed to work his land. Daafallah said he had been unable to farm for nearly four years and hoped to resume work after the previous repairs.
Commercial stockholders face financial losses due to the outages. Ibrahim Mohammed, a 37-year-old grocer in Gedaref, stated that he was already facing power cuts for hours before the latest strike. He currently has chicken stock in a fridge and faces the choice of losing the entire inventory or selling it at a loss to prevent spoilage.
The United Nations has warned that regular attacks on power infrastructure threaten health services for millions. At least 8 million children are out of school, and most hospitals have closed. The country is also dealing with high inflation, as the currency lost more than 25% of its value in recent weeks.
