UN rights chief says Sudan drone strikes may be war crimes

January 18, 2026 (PORT SUDAN) – UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk said on Sunday that drone strikes by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on civilian infrastructure in Sudan constitute gross violations that may amount to war crimes.

Speaking at a press conference in Port Sudan at the end of his four-day visit, Türk urged both the Sudanese army and the RSF to halt attacks on civilians, markets, and health facilities. He described the acquisition of advanced weaponry during the conflict as “outrageous,” stating that those funds should have been used to ease the suffering of the population.

Both sides have increased their use of unmanned aerial vehicles in the war that began in mid-April 2023. The UN official recently inspected damage at the country’s largest power generation plant in Merowe, northern Sudan, which he attributed to RSF drone strikes.

Türk also stated there were indicators that sexual violence is being used systematically as a weapon of war.

He expressed deep concern over “horrific crimes” reported during the RSF’s takeover of the Darfur regional capital, El Fasher, in October. He warned of similar risks in the Kordofan region, which has become a primary theatre of military operations, leading to a collapse of basic services. Türk noted that in some besieged areas, civilians have been forced to eat animal feed for 18 months.

The High Commissioner confirmed that the International Criminal Court (ICC) will investigate gross violations in Darfur and expressed hope that the probe would expand across Sudan.

“The Sudanese people have lived through atrocities,” Türk said, pledging to pursue accountability. “Those involved in violations in Sudan must appear before the International Criminal Court”.