Drone attack near Umm Rawaba courthouse kills 13, injures dozens in Sudan
A drone strike blamed on the Rapid Support Forces hit the area outside the courthouse in Umm Rawaba, killing 13 people and wounding 22.
On Tuesday, a drone strike attributed to Sudan's paramilitary Rapid Support Forces struck the vicinity of the courthouse in Umm Rawaba, a central town under army control, killing 13 civilians and leaving 22 injured. The victims were waiting outside the court to complete legal and administrative procedures when the drone hit a tree, creating a loud explosion that shattered the crowd. Hospital officials updated the death count after an additional victim died from wounds.
The incident follows a pattern of escalating drone use by both the RSF and the Sudanese army, which UN figures say have caused over 1,100 deaths this year. Umm Rawaba sits on a key route linking central Sudan with the western region of Darfur, a strategic corridor contested by both sides. International observers have warned that external support, including alleged backing of the RSF by the United Arab Emirates, is intensifying the conflict and endangering civilians.
Why it matters
The strike highlights the growing civilian toll of Sudan's drone warfare and the risk of broader regional instability.
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