UN condemns sharp rise in drone strikes killing civilians in Sudan

The United Nations human rights chief has condemned a sharp rise in drone warfare in Sudan, saying more than 1,000 civilians were killed in drone strikes between January and May 2026. The warning was delivered in Geneva as the conflict in Sudan entered its fourth year, with the fighting continuing between the regular army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces. The UN said the escalation is deepening an already severe human rights crisis.

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Volker Turk told the UN Human Rights Council that the conflict had "expanded and escalated" and that his office had documented more than 1,000 civilian deaths from drone strikes in the first five months of this year. He also said rape and sexual violence were rampant. The UN said that, unless reversed, these patterns would further erode protection and deepen Sudan's human rights catastrophe.

The conflict, which began in April 2023, has already killed tens of thousands of people and forced more than 11 million from their homes. The UN has described the situation as the world's largest displacement and hunger crisis. The fact-finding mission on Sudan has warned that arbitrary detention, torture and enforced disappearance are being used to control the population, while widespread violations by the Sudanese Armed Forces, the Rapid Support Forces and their allies show no sign of stopping.

The latest warning matters because drone warfare is becoming a more prominent feature of the conflict and is adding to the scale of civilian harm. The UN's figures suggest a marked change in the pattern of violence, with attacks now reaching civilians in multiple parts of the country. The escalation also raises further questions about accountability for possible war crimes and crimes against humanity, which have already been raised in relation to violence in El-Fasher.

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The UN update also pointed to continuing abuses beyond drone strikes, including sexual violence and other violations of international humanitarian law. Reports from El-Fasher have described mass killings, rapes and other violence, and the International Criminal Court has warned that such acts may constitute war crimes and crimes against humanity. Satellite imagery has also shown signs of bloodshed in the city after the RSF took control, underlining the scale of the violence.

What remains unclear is whether the rise in drone strikes will continue and whether any side will change tactics in response to the UN warning. It is also not clear what immediate steps, if any, will be taken to protect civilians or improve access to independent monitoring. The Human Rights Council is expected to continue examining the situation as the conflict and its humanitarian consequences deepen.

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