RSF drones destroy five power stations across three eastern Sudanese states

Five power stations were destroyed by Rapid Support Forces drones this week, cutting electricity to large parts of Al-Jazira, Gedaref, and White Nile states. A government official speaking anonymously on October 26 confirmed that the paramilitary group targeted two stations in Al-Jazira, two in Gedaref, and one in White Nile. The official stated that the attacks resulted in outages across broad sections of these three army-controlled states.

The war between the Sudanese army and the RSF, its former ally, has shifted heavily toward aerial bombardment. Both sides now launch sophisticated drone attacks across the country. The United Nations reported that more than 300 people were killed and hundreds more injured in the first three weeks of October alone. Aid workers estimate the conflict has claimed more than 200,000 lives since it began in April 2023.

Infrastructure damage has compounded the crisis for residents. Babiker Youssef, a resident of Al-Fao in Gedaref, reported that power had been out since early morning on the day of the attack. He explained that his diabetic son requires refrigerated insulin, creating a risk of medication spoilage. Youssef said he feared he could not replace the drug if it spoiled and noted that locals have no idea when electricity will return.

Farmers in Al-Jazira are also facing setbacks after nearly four years of conflict. Abdelhafez Daafallah, a 54-year-old farmer in Al-Junaid, said the power station had just been repaired three months prior. He hoped the restored electricity would allow irrigation pumps to run again, enabling him to return to farming. The new drone strike destroyed that progress, leaving him unable to work his land again.

Businesses in Gedaref are losing stock due to the outages. Ibrahim Mohammed, a 37-year-old grocer, said he was already experiencing power cuts for hours before the latest strike. He stated that he now has chicken in his refrigerator that he must either lose or sell at a loss to avoid spoilage. The UN has warned that regular attacks on power stations threaten health services for millions facing the world's largest hunger crisis.

Sudan, home to an estimated 50 million people, is also dealing with severe economic strain. The currency lost more than 25% of its value in recent weeks amid high inflation. At least 8 million children are out of school, and the majority of hospitals have closed. The country continues to rely on air power, with drones now the primary method of combat for both the army and the RSF.