Rights Group says 28 killed in drone strike on market in Sudan’s north Kordofan

Emergency Lawyers, a rights organization monitoring attacks against civilians, said drones bombed a crowded market in North Kordofan state on Monday evening, killing at least 28 people and wounding dozens more in what it described as a grave violation of international humanitarian law.

The Emergency Lawyers Group said the strike hit Al-Safiya market, northeast of Sodari locality, at a time of heavy civilian presence, including women, children and elderly people. The group said the death toll was preliminary and likely to rise.

“We strongly condemn this bombing, which targeted a purely civilian facility,” the group said, adding that it holds the party responsible for the attack fully accountable for “lives lost, families bereaved and property destroyed.”

Drones have been increasingly used by the warring parties during nearly three years of fighting that have devastated large parts of the country. The Emergency Lawyers Group said repeated drone strikes on populated areas reflected “a serious disregard for civilian lives” and warned of escalating violence threatening what remains of daily life in the state.

It called on both sides to halt drone attacks and refrain from targeting civilian objects, urging strict compliance with international humanitarian law and immediate steps to protect civilians. The group also criticized what it described as “international silence” over repeated violations, saying it “fuels impunity and deepens civilian suffering.”

The strike follows a broader escalation in drone warfare across Sudan since early this year.

On January 3, drone strikes targeted a market and a medical clinic in the villages of Al-Zurq and Ghurair in North Darfur, killing several civilians. On the same day, a separate strike in Kulbus, West Darfur, killed one civilian.

Violence intensified in North Kordofan later in January. Earlier this month, near Rahad, a drone strike hit a vehicle carrying displaced families, killing 24 people, including eight children. On January, multiple civilian deaths were reported in El Obeid following suspected Rapid Support Forces (RSF) drone attacks inside the city.

In February, drone attacks expanded further south. On February 3, in Kadugli, South Kordofan, a drone strike reportedly carried out by an RSF and Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) alliance hit a medical site, killing 15 people, including seven children. The following day, another drone struck a military hospital in Kadugli, killing one person and injuring eight others.

While the RSF and allied groups are widely accused of leading the escalating drone campaign, the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) have also faced allegations of carrying out drone strikes in civilian areas. Civilian locations — including markets, hospitals and vehicles transporting displaced families — have been repeatedly hit.

The Kordofan region has emerged as a focal point of hostilities, reflecting its strategic position between RSF-controlled areas in Darfur and territories held by the Sudanese army. The systematic use of drones marks a shift in the conduct of the conflict and has had devastating humanitarian consequences for civilians.

Beyond the immediate loss of life, the intensification of drone strikes has further exacerbated Sudan’s already severe humanitarian crisis. Reports indicate that humanitarian convoys have also come under attack, compounding access constraints and heightening risks for aid workers.

The World Food Programme (WFP) recently condemned attacks on its convoys, warning that such incidents undermine efforts to deliver life-saving assistance to vulnerable populations. Health authorities and humanitarian organizations including world health organization chief have also warned that medical facilities are facing increasing attacks.