UN rights chief warns of ‘chronic’ cruelty and foreign-funded drone war in Sudan
February 26, 2026 (GENEVA) – U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk told the Human Rights Council on Thursday that Sudan has become a “land of despair,” reporting a staggering 250% increase in civilian killings over the past year as the country’s civil war enters its third year.
In a briefing on a new report documenting widespread atrocities, Türk detailed a “chronicle of cruelty” including the weaponization of sexual violence, summary executions, and a surge in high-tech warfare fueled by foreign sponsors.
“This is a high-tech war supported by foreign sponsors,” Türk said, noting that the increased use of advanced long-range drones has expanded the conflict to previously peaceful areas. “We must reverse this flow: let aid in, and keep weapons out.”
The High Commissioner highlighted the devastating impact of drone strikes on critical infrastructure. He cited an attack by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on a power station in Kosti, White Nile, which crippled water systems and triggered a massive cholera outbreak.
The report identified more than 500 victims of sexual violence in 2025 alone, including cases of rape, sexual torture, and slavery. Türk, who visited Sudan in January, said he personally heard “harrowing testimonies” from survivors, adding that the bodies of women and girls are being used to “terrorize communities.”
Fighting between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the RSF has intensified in recent months, with the epicentre shifting toward the Kordofan region. Türk warned of a repeat of the “carnage” seen during the RSF capture of Zamzam camp in April and the offensive on El Fasher in October, which he said amounted to war crimes and possible crimes against humanity.
The U.N. rights chief also condemned the “growing militarization of society,” including the recruitment of children and a crackdown on civic space. He reported that 13 million children are currently out of school as buildings are bombed or converted for military use.
Both parties were accused of large-scale arbitrary detention and torture. In SAF-controlled areas, civilians have been sentenced to death without due process, while the RSF operates without any formal justice system in territories under its command.
Türk called on the international community to move beyond being “passive bystanders” and urged the U.N. Security Council to refer the situation across all of Sudan to the International Criminal Court.
“War is never total chaos; it follows its own logic — the logic of profit for those who wage it,” Türk said. “What we are seeing is the grievance of many, driven by the greed of a few.”