Sudan's war becomes drone-dominated, over 1,000 civilian deaths in five months

Summary

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights on June 15 documented more than 1,000 civilian deaths from drone strikes in Sudan in the first five months of 2026, an 81% increase in attacks over the equivalent 2025 period. The Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project classified the conflict as "drone-dominated." Both the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces are deploying commercial and modified drones against population centres. El Obeid, capital of North Kordofan, was struck again on June 22, when attacks on a power substation and fuel station knocked out electricity to hospitals and dialysis centres across the state. The 600% increase in drone-related deaths since the war's start reflects a broader shift toward cheaper remotely-piloted platforms that operate with no accountability.

Why it matters

Sudan's conflict, now in its third year, is quietly becoming one of the world's most lethal aerial bombardment campaigns. The combination of drone proliferation, collapsed public services and an active UN-documented famine creates conditions for mass-casualty events that receive a fraction of the international attention directed at conflicts with comparable death tolls in other regions. RSF drone supply lines, including components traced through UAE and Libyan intermediaries, remain largely intact.

What to watch

• Whether the African Union's July mediation track addresses drone use specifically, or remains deadlocked on ceasefire terms.
• Any further strikes on El Obeid's water and medical infrastructure, which are already below minimum operating capacity.
• Whether the ICC's existing Sudan warrants translate into any pressure on drone supply networks.