Rights group says RSF drone strike on displaced people killed 41 in Sudan's Blue Nile

A rights group says a drone strike that hit displaced people killed 41 people on Friday. The group, Emergency Lawyers, says the strike hit the Abu Shandi area of Blue Nile region, near the border with Ethiopia. It attributes the strike to the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said in a statement that it was "appalled by horrifying reports" of the strike, according to the BBC.

Sudan's army and the RSF have been at war since 2023.

Casualties

According to The Hindu, Emergency Lawyers said eight children and many women were among the dead. OCHA said initial reports suggested most of the casualties were women and children, the BBC reported. According to The Hindu, OCHA said the reported strike also wounded dozens of people.

The reports reviewed by Vocemundi do not describe any independent verification of the toll. The BBC and The Hindu both attribute the figure of 41, and the RSF's responsibility, to Emergency Lawyers. The reports do not explain how the group determined who carried out the strike. OCHA's statement reacts to reports of the strike. It does not independently confirm the toll or the perpetrator.

According to the BBC, OCHA said the area had been under sustained attack in recent weeks, displacing thousands of civilians.

Context

According to The Hindu, the war began in April 2023 with open fighting in Khartoum, which then spread across the country. The BBC reports that the army controls much of central and eastern Sudan. The RSF is headquartered in Darfur and also controls areas in the south. Both sides have been accused of using drone attacks, according to the BBC. The Hindu reports that 33.7 million people in Sudan, including 17.3 million children, urgently need aid this year.

What is disputed

• What was struck: the BBC describes a camp for displaced people. The Hindu describes a gathering of displaced people on the border with Ethiopia.
• War deaths: the BBC says hundreds of thousands have been killed. The Hindu cites the conflict monitor ACLED for at least 150,000, and says aid groups believe the real number is likely higher.
• Displacement: the BBC says more than 14 million people have been displaced. The Hindu cites UN figures of more than 12.4 million.

What each side says

• Emergency Lawyers, which tracks the war according to The Hindu, says an RSF drone strike killed 41 people.
• OCHA says it is appalled by the reports.
• Denise Brown, the UN resident and humanitarian coordinator in Sudan, condemned the killings in a statement. The Hindu quoted her as saying: "Condemning these senseless killings is essential, but there must also be accountability for this flagrant disregard for international humanitarian law." She added: "As each day goes by in this war, the world continues to accept the suffering of the people of Sudan."
• The RSF: according to The Hindu, an RSF spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment. The reports do not include any response from the Sudanese army or government.

Analysis

The account of this strike rests on a single origin, Emergency Lawyers, and the reports reviewed by Vocemundi do not describe independent verification. Confirming the toll and the perpetrator would likely require access by UN agencies or other observers, which the reports do not mention. If the RSF responds, its account could either support or contest the allegation. The UN coordinator's call for accountability may add pressure for investigations, though the reports do not describe any such process. The incident also draws attention to the risks facing displaced civilians in border areas, where, according to OCHA, sustained attacks have already forced thousands from their homes.

Produced by the Vocemundi newsroom with AI assistance.