Report Accuses Sudan’s Warring Parties of Systematic Air Attacks on Civilians in Darfur

KAMPALA, July 12, 2026 - A new report has accused both the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) of repeatedly carrying out air and drone strikes that have deliberately targeted civilians across Darfur, raising serious concerns over violations of international humanitarian law. The report documents 17 air and drone attacks between October 2024 and April 2026, alleging that marketplaces, hospitals, wedding celebrations, mosques, and shelters for displaced people were among the locations hit, resulting in hundreds of civilian deaths and injuries. According to the findings, investigators identified repeated failures by both sides to distinguish between military objectives and civilian sites during military operations. Among the incidents highlighted are airstrikes that reportedly struck crowded public areas in Nyala and Tora, as well as a drone attack on a mosque in El Fasher during dawn prayers. The report also alleges the use of so-called "double-tap" strikes, in which a second attack follows shortly after an initial strike, hitting first responders and civilians attempting to rescue victims. The document describes Sudan’s conflict as increasingly dominated by drones and other advanced aerial weapons, arguing that the growing use of unmanned aircraft has become a major driver of civilian casualties. The report calls on the international community to strengthen enforcement of existing arms embargoes, curb the flow of weapons into the conflict, and provide greater support for efforts to document violations and monitor arms supply networks. Researchers behind the report said the continued attacks on civilian infrastructure demonstrate a persistent disregard for the laws of armed conflict and stressed the need for accountability through independent investigations and international justice mechanisms. Conclusion The developments between July 1 and 13, 2026 illustrate a conflict that is becoming increasingly entrenched, with military, humanitarian, economic, and diplomatic crises reinforcing one another. The war has evolved beyond conventional frontlines into a struggle for strategic towns, transport corridors, and economic assets, while shifting local alliances and repeated territorial gains and losses continue to fuel instability across Darfur, Kordofan, and the Blue Nile region. The humanitarian toll continues to deepen. Intensified fighting, drone strikes, and restrictions on humanitarian access have displaced thousands more civilians, overwhelmed cities such as El Obeid, and further strained already fragile health, water, and food systems. Reports of attacks on civilian infrastructure, markets, medical facilities, and displacement sites, alongside mounting allegations of violations of international humanitarian law, have heightened concerns over civilian protection and accountability. Diplomatic efforts have gained momentum but remain uncertain. Sudan has engaged with international peace initiatives, including a U.S.-backed mediation framework, while reaffirming conditions centered on national sovereignty, territorial integrity, and security arrangements. At the same time, the African Union, the United Nations, and other regional and international partners have intensified efforts to revive negotiations, reflecting growing recognition that a military solution alone is unlikely to end the conflict. International scrutiny has also increased through legal and political actions, including calls for tougher sanctions, investigations into alleged war crimes, and judicial proceedings against senior figures accused of atrocities. These developments underscore the expanding international dimension of the crisis and the growing emphasis on accountability alongside conflict resolution. Meanwhile, Sudan's economy remains under severe pressure. Inflation, disrupted trade, declining agricultural production, and damaged infrastructure continue to undermine livelihoods despite government measures to stabilize the currency, support farmers, modernize strategic infrastructure, and strengthen regional economic partnerships. Taken together, these developments point to a country facing a prolonged and multidimensional crisis. Without sustained progress toward a nationwide ceasefire, expanded humanitarian access, meaningful political dialogue, and economic recovery, Sudan is likely to remain caught in a cycle of violence, displacement, and institutional fragility with consequences extending well beyond its borders. By Jeff Buleli