Deadly RSF drone attacks reveal deep divisions between Sudan and Ethiopia

What the report says

Sudan has taken its dispute with Ethiopia to the United Nations and the African Union, accusing Addis Ababa of being linked to a wave of deadly drone attacks that Sudan says have been carried out by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). In an Al Jazeera report published on 3 November 2026, Sudanese officials said the assaults have hit civilian infrastructure in areas controlled by the Sudanese Armed Forces and have deepened an already fraught relationship between the two neighbours.

The article says Sudan’s foreign ministry and military intelligence compiled a report alleging that 70 attacks involving 187 one-way drones were launched from Ethiopian territory between February and October, with a higher concentration in October. It also cited figures from Sudanese authorities saying drone strikes killed hundreds of people, including soldiers and civilians, and damaged much of the country’s power system. A UN statement quoted in the report condemned the impact on civilians and expressed alarm at the use of drones in the war.

Ethiopia denies supporting the RSF and has made counter-accusations of its own, according to the report. Al Jazeera notes that the tensions are not limited to the current war in Sudan: they also involve long-running disputes over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, regional alliances and security along their shared border. Analysts quoted by the outlet said both governments appear wary of a direct military confrontation because it could widen the conflict and worsen displacement and instability.