The Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has launched a series of drone strikes on Port Sudan, targeting key infrastructure and causing power blackouts and water shortages. This marks a new phase in Sudan’s civil war, with experts describing it as a “shock and awe campaign”. The RSF’s use of drones has showcased the growth of advanced drone warfare in Africa.
“It’s a level of power projection within this region that we haven’t seen yet,” says Alan Boswell, Horn of Africa expert for the International Crisis Group. “I think it raises the stakes quite a bit.” The RSF’s drone strikes aim to demonstrate strength and shift the narrative away from the Sudanese Armed Forces’ (SAF) recent recapture of Khartoum.
Key Developments:
- Drone Technology: The RSF has deployed advanced drones, including Chinese-made CH-95s capable of long-range strikes, according to satellite images reported by Yale researchers and Reuters.
- Foreign Involvement: The SAF accuses the United Arab Emirates (UAE) of supplying the RSF with drones, while the UAE denies the allegations. Justin Lynch, managing director at Conflict Insights Group, believes the evidence is overwhelming, citing a US State Department-funded report that concluded with “near certainty” the UAE was facilitating weapons to the RSF.
- Humanitarian Impact: The war has taken a massive humanitarian toll, with citizens fleeing their homes and being hit in strikes. The UN has warned that the “major escalation” could further complicate aid operations and lead to large-scale civilian casualties.
Expert Insights:
- “The RSF is trying to show that they don’t need to reach Port Sudan by land in order to be able to have an impact there,” says Sudanese political analyst Kholood Khair. “It is saying to the Sudanese Armed Forces: ‘You can take Khartoum back, but you’ll never be able to govern it.'”
- “This is a war of technology,” says Justin Lynch. “That’s why the foreign supporters are so important, because it’s not like the RSF is making the weapons themselves.”
- “These weapons have more precision, you don’t need a manned aircraft anymore, and they are much more affordable than operating sophisticated jets,” says Jeremy Binnie, Africa and Middle East analyst at Janes.