Rapid Support Forces target five power stations in eastern Sudan
Drone strikes on infrastructure in three army-held states have left residents without electricity and threatened local food supplies.
By George Parker ·
Sudan’s war has intensified its reliance on aerial bombardment, targeting critical infrastructure across the country’s east. The Rapid Support Forces (RSF) executed a coordinated drone attack on five power stations, causing widespread outages in three states.
A government official, speaking anonymously, confirmed the strikes hit two stations each in Al-Jazira and Gedaref, and one in White Nile state. The official stated the attacks resulted in power outages across large parts of these regions. All three states are currently under the control of the Sudanese army, which has fought the RSF since April 2023.
Residents reported that the loss of electricity has disrupted daily life and threatened essential goods. Babiker Youssef, a resident of Al-Fao in Gedaref, said the power had been out since early morning. He explained that his son is diabetic and requires refrigerated insulin, creating fear that the medication might spoil without a reliable backup.
Agricultural operations in Al-Jazira have also suffered setbacks. Abdelhafez Daafallah, a 54-year-old farmer in Al-Junaid, noted that electricity had only begun to stabilize three months prior. The power station targeted in the latest strike had been recently repaired, leading to hopes that irrigation pumps would restart. Daafallah expressed frustration after nearly four years of being unable to work his land effectively.
Businesses in Gedaref face immediate financial losses due to the outages. Ibrahim Mohammed, a 37-year-old grocer, stated that he was already experiencing hour-long power cuts before the strike. He said his refrigerated chicken stock is now at risk, forcing him to either lose the inventory or sell it at a steep discount.
The United Nations has warned that regular attacks on power stations endanger health services for millions facing the world's largest hunger crisis. In the first three weeks of October, drone strikes killed more than 300 people and injured hundreds. Aid workers estimate the war, which has ravaged the country of 50 million people, has killed more than 200,000 individuals.
The majority of Sudan’s hospitals have closed, and at least 8 million children are out of school. The conflict has also driven inflation higher, with the national currency losing more than 25% of its value in recent weeks.
Source: The Guardian
