Drone strike on Omdurman power station causes Khartoum blackout

October 27, 2026 (OMDURMAN) – A drone strike targeted the Al-Markhiyat power station northwest of Omdurman on Tuesday, causing a power outage in the capital, Khartoum.

It was the seventh attack on power facilities in Sudan in less than a week.

Drones belonging to the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) attacked power stations on Monday in Al-Junaid in Al-Jazirah state, Singa in Sennar state, Al-Hawata and Al-Faw in Al-Qadarif state, and Mashkour in White Nile state.

This followed a strike on the local Tendelti power station in White Nile state several days earlier.

The operations have caused widespread power outages across the country’s central, eastern, and western regions.

Local sources told Sudan Tribune that the Al-Markhiyat power station was hit in the early hours of Tuesday morning.

Omdurman residents reported hearing a loud explosion from the city’s northwest, followed by blackouts in Omdurman and Khartoum.

Residents also heard sounds of army anti-aircraft defences intercepting the drone.

Residents said they are concerned that prolonged power outages will disrupt water treatment stations along the Nile if repairs are delayed.

The RSF has intensified attacks in recent days, using explosive-laden and tactical drones to target fuel reserves and power stations.

The recent strikes have hit facilities in North Kordofan, Al-Qadarif, Al-Jazirah, Sennar, and White Nile states, as well as Omdurman.