United Nations condemns deadly wave of drone strikes across Sudan

The United Nations condemned a wave of deadly drone strikes across Sudan on Monday that killed and injured dozens of people, UN News reported. United Nations spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric stated in New York that the organization is alarmed by the continued drone strikes that are killing civilians, including children, and disrupting essential services. [1]

The increase in the use of armed drones comes amid a broader war between rival militaries that has intensified hunger and displacement across the country. According to UN News, 20 million people in Sudan face acute hunger, with a rising risk of famine in parts of Darfur and Greater Kordofan. [1]

Fighting in the country initially erupted in April 2023 between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, UN News reported. The two groups were former allies who had jointly seized power during a military coup in 2021. [1]

Sudan has experienced long periods of political instability since gaining independence in 1956, including two civil wars between 1955 and 1972 and from 1983 onwards. [3]