Drone strike by Sudan paramilitary kills 41 near Ethiopian border, rights group says

What the report says

A drone strike in Sudan’s Blue Nile region near the Ethiopian border killed 41 people, according to the rights group Emergency Lawyers. BBC World News reported that the Rapid Support Forces, a paramilitary group fighting Sudan’s army, were blamed for the attack, which hit a camp for displaced people in Abu Shandi on Friday. The source material says eight children were among the dead, and the UN humanitarian office said early reports indicated most casualties were women and children.

The attack took place in an area that has seen repeated violence and displacement. OCHA said it was appalled by the reports and noted that the location had been under sustained attack in recent weeks, forcing thousands of civilians to flee and leaving many others at risk. The BBC report places the strike within the wider war between the Sudanese army and the RSF, which has continued since 2023.

That conflict has caused massive displacement and a severe humanitarian emergency across Sudan. More than 14 million people have been driven from their homes, and aid agencies have warned that millions need medical support. The report also notes that both sides have been accused of using drone attacks, with the army holding much of central and eastern Sudan and the RSF based mainly in Darfur and active in parts of the south.