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Sudan Civil War
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At Least 10 Civilians Killed in West Darfur Drone Strike
On 17 October 2026, a drone strike in Sanaqit, West Darfur, killed at least 10 civilians, including children, as they were harvesting crops. Regional health officials attributed the attack to the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), noting that the victims were displaced individuals who had previously fled violence in nearby villages. This incident occurred near the Chadian border, a region currently serving as a refuge for displaced families and a hub for humanitarian aid organizations. The Darfur regional government has condemned the strike as a violation of international humanitarian law and requested that the RSF be designated a terrorist organization.
Rising medicine costs impact chronically ill patients in Sudan
The civil war in Sudan between the military and the Rapid Support Forces has caused a collapse in the economy and the healthcare system, leaving chronically ill patients unable to afford essential treatments. Individuals like Hasanat al-Rashid, a diabetic, and Fatima Adam, who suffers from hypertension and a thyroid condition, reported that the conflict displaced them and rendered previous health insurance schemes ineffective. With income levels reverting to 1990s standards, patients are now forced to choose between purchasing necessary medications or basic necessities like food. The lack of infrastructure, such as reliable refrigeration, further increases the financial burden on patients who must pay for cooling supplies to preserve temperature-sensitive drugs like insulin.
Premier League refuses petition regarding Manchester City owner's ties to Sudan war
The Premier League refused for a third time to accept a petition from Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) that called for the league to hold Manchester City owner Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan accountable for the UAE’s alleged support of the Rapid Support Forces in the Sudan war. The petition was initially launched in January outside Etihad Stadium, with the Premier League rejecting it on 14 October following previous refusals on 28 April and 21 May. This conflict occurs alongside the Premier League's separate finding that Manchester City committed 114 breaches of financial rules, including the disguise of over £830m in illicit funding. The club, which acts as a self-described "proxy brand" for the UAE, is currently appealing these verdicts.
Sudan army and RSF report casualties following attack in Nyala
The Sudanese army conducted a series of air and drone attacks in the South Darfur capital of Nyala, targeting positions and command centers held by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). While the army reported killing dozens of RSF fighters, the RSF and the Emergency Lawyers group stated that a drone strike hit a busy livestock market, resulting in the deaths of 30 civilians, including 17 women and five children. The incident occurred amid intensifying hostilities across Sudan, including drone attacks on mining sites in South Kordofan and declared intentions by military chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan to reclaim all territory currently held by the RSF.
Russian official claims US-supplied weapons found in Sudan
Yulia Zhdanova, head of Russia’s delegation to the Vienna Negotiations on Military Security and Arms Control, claimed that US-supplied weapons, including MK19 grenade launchers, M72 anti-tank weapons, and AT4 launchers, were recovered from the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) near Bara, Sudan. According to Zhdanova, preliminary markings indicated these weapons were donated to the Ukrainian Armed Forces from US military stock in December 2024. This development follows previous allegations from Sudanese officials that Ukraine supplied drones to the RSF and Russian warnings that Western arms provided to Kiev have entered illicit global markets.
Chad plans to withdraw from the International Criminal Court
On October 15, 2026, it was reported that Chad planned to withdraw from the International Criminal Court. This announcement was covered by France 24 in a report issued at 14:36. The information was presented alongside a video player that was blocked by browser extensions, preventing the display of the full content.
The Use of Drones in the Sudan Conflict
Since April 2023, the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces have engaged in a conflict that has evolved into a regional proxy war involving advanced drone technology. Both sides have transitioned from using limited-range civilian drones to sophisticated systems, with the Rapid Support Forces utilizing Chinese-manufactured CH-95 or FH-95 drones to target locations such as Port Sudan. Reports indicated that between January and June 2026, drone strikes accounted for approximately 80 percent of all recorded civilian deaths, totaling over 1,100 fatalities. The conflict has increasingly become a testing ground for competing Chinese and Turkish drone and anti-aircraft systems, resulting in significant destruction to civilian infrastructure including power stations and the Merowe Dam.
Humanitarian crisis worsens in Sudan amid ongoing conflict and climate factors
The conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) intensified in North Kordofan and Blue Nile state, further destabilizing a country already divided between the two factions since April 2023. The ongoing violence has caused up to 250,000 deaths and displaced more than 12.4 million people, while simultaneously disrupting the planting season. This humanitarian emergency is being compounded by extreme weather, including massive heatwaves and localized flooding, alongside severe shortages of fuel and fertilizer. Consequently, 24.6 million people are experiencing high levels of acute food insecurity, with areas in Greater Darfur and Greater Kordofan projected to reach IPC Phase 5, the most severe category of famine.
Analysis of US intervention and potential division in Sudan
The United States denied a visa to Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) leader Abdel Fattah al-Burhan for the UN General Assembly in late September after he reportedly refused to sign a 90-day ceasefire proposed by US presidential adviser Massad Boulos. While the US previously maintained a neutral stance toward the SAF and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) since the conflict began in April 2023, the State Department recently asserted that neither side represents a legitimate government. The rejected Boulos plan sought a 90-day humanitarian ceasefire, troop withdrawals, and a transition to civilian government, with the RSF rejecting the withdrawal requirement and the Sudanese government expressing doubts regarding the plan's political elements.
Sudan initiative faces debate over military influence
In August 2026, a committee of 19 Sudanese public figures, led by Qasim Badri, launched an initiative aimed at preparing the ground for national dialogue within Sudan. Following the committee's meeting with SAF chief General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, authorities issued a decree to provide legal protections and drop certain charges against Sudanese citizens returning for dialogue. The initiative faced criticism from the civilian coalition Sumoud and the alliance Ta’sis, who expressed concerns that the project could legitimize al-Burhan’s military authority. Despite this opposition, the committee stated that its goal is to act as a facilitator to create conditions for direct political engagement rather than to negotiate the country’s future.
IPC Issues Food Insecurity and Malnutrition Alert for Sudan
The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) issued an alert regarding the growing risk of famine in Sudan, specifically identifying Greater Darfur and Greater Kordofan as regions of concern. This deterioration was driven by ongoing conflict, mass displacement, inadequate humanitarian funding, and an El Niño-induced drought that impacted approximately half of the country. With 37% of Sudan’s health facilities non-functional and 228 verified attacks on health care since April 15, 2023, the WHO reported that access to food, clean water, and medical care remained severely restricted. Between January and August 2026, the WHO treated over 26,000 children for severe acute malnutrition (SAM) across 161 stabilization centers.
Conflict and drought increase risk of famine in Sudan
The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) warned that famine risks have intensified across Sudan’s Darfur and Kordofan regions due to the convergence of a three-year-long war and an El Nino-induced drought. The drought, which affected roughly half of the country and nearly two-thirds of cropland in North Darfur, has reduced food availability and caused a surge in prices. Since the conflict between the military and the Rapid Support Forces erupted in April 2023, approximately 13 million people have been displaced and at least 150,000 have been killed. By May, over 40% of the population faced high levels of acute food insecurity, with 135,000 individuals already experiencing Phase 5 conditions characterized by extreme food shortages and starvation.
Rights group reports 72 killed in air strike near Sudan-Egypt border
On October 11, 2026, the Sudanese rights group The Emergency Lawyers reported that an air strike killed 72 civilian miners at a gold mine located near the Sudan-Egypt border. The group accused the Egyptian air force of conducting the attack on the previous day. Efforts to verify the casualty toll remained ongoing following the preliminary report.
Drone strike in Sudan kills at least 40
A drone strike attributed to the Rapid Support Forces killed at least 40 people, including children, in Sudan’s Blue Nile province near the Ethiopian border. Separately, attacks by Iranian-backed Houthi rebels damaged three aircraft at Riyadh international airport in Saudi Arabia, prompting the Saudi-led coalition to strike 136 military targets in Yemen. Additionally, Lebanon officially lifted a decades-long flight ban with the United States following a directive from the Trump administration. The conflict in Sudan has resulted in an estimated 150,000 deaths, while the Houthi attacks have caused casualties among Saudi citizens and disrupted regional air traffic.
Drone strike kills 30 in Sudan's Blue Nile region
A drone strike, reportedly linked to the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), killed 30 people, including 26 women and four children, near a displacement camp in Wad al-Mahi, Sudan. The governor of the province, Mahjoub Al-Sheikh, stated the drone was launched from inside Ethiopia, though Ethiopia has denied Sudanese accusations that it harbors RSF fighters or bases. The attack occurred in the Blue Nile region, a new frontline in the ongoing civil war between the Sudanese army and the RSF, which has already claimed more than 200,000 lives since April 2023.
Sudanese rebel commander defects to the army
Lieutenant Colonel Mohamed Azraq al-Fanjari, commander of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) Special Tasks Group, defected to the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) alongside approximately 300 fighters and 30 military vehicles. In a video announcement, Fanjari cited the ongoing conflict as a "futile war" and apologized for the suffering inflicted upon the Sudanese people. This defection follows a series of similar departures by senior RSF commanders, including Abuagla Keikal, Al-Nour Ahmed Adam, and Ali Rizqallah, since 2024. The development occurred amidst army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan's stated refusal to engage in negotiations with the paramilitary group.
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