Sudan's RSF keeps up drone campaign against army-held cities

Drones struck army-held areas of eastern and southern Sudan for a fifth straight day Thursday as paramilitaries kept up their attacks on areas formerly regarded as safe, army sources said.

Attacks targeted the country's main naval base outside Port Sudan, seat of the army-backed government, as well as fuel depots in the southern city of Kosti, two sources said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

"The militia launched another drone attack on the Flamingo Naval Base north of Port Sudan," one source told AFP on condition of anonymity, referring to the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), at war with the regular army since April 2023.

Explosions were heard across the city, an AFP correspondent reported.

Port Sudan on the Red Sea coast had been a safe haven, hosting hundreds of thousands of displaced people and United Nations offices, until Sunday, when drone strikes blamed on the RSF began.

The port city is the main entry point for humanitarian aid into Sudan, and UN chief Antonio Guterres warned the attacks "threaten to increase humanitarian needs and further complicate aid operations in the country", his spokesman Stephane Dujarric said.

Nearly 1,100 kilometres (some 680 miles) to the southwest, in the army-controlled city of Kosti in White Nile state, RSF drones struck fuel depots, setting off massive fires, a military source said.

"The militia targeted the fuel depots that supply the state with three drones, causing fires to break out," the source told AFP on condition of anonymity.

There were no immediate reports of any casualties.

More than two years of war have killed tens of thousands of people and uprooted 13 million, according to UN figures.

'Major escalation'

RSF drone strikes on Port Sudan this week have targeted key facilities including the country's last functioning international airport, its largest working fuel depot and the city's main power station.

An army source said air defences had shot down 15 drones over the city overnight.

On Wednesday evening, drones were also seen over the army-held eastern city of Kassala and northern city of Merowe, prompting anti-aircraft fire.

UN chief Antonio Guterres expressed alarm over the "major escalation" in Port Sudan, warning of "large-scale civilian casualties" and damage to critical infrastructure.

The RSF has not commented on the attacks, which are all hundreds of kilometres away from their closest known positions on the outskirts of greater Khartoum.

The paramilitaries have ramped up their drone campaign since losing control of nearly all of greater Khartoum to the army in March.

On Tuesday, the army-backed government severed ties with the United Arab Emirates, accusing it of supplying the RSF with advanced weapons systems.

The UAE denied the allegation, adding that the army-backed administration "does not represent the legitimate government of Sudan".

The paramilitaries and their allies have moved to establish a rival administration in areas under their control.

Abu Dhabi has repeatedly denied arming the RSF, despite reports from UN experts, US politicians and international organisations.

The war has effectively split the country into two parts, with the army holding the north, east, and centre, and the RSF controlling most of Darfur and parts of the south.