Drones killed 880 Sudanese civilians in four months, says UN rights chief
MAY 11 2026 (GENEVA) – Drone strikes accounted for at least 880 civilian deaths in Sudan between January and April this year, representing more than 80 per cent of all conflict-related civilian fatalities, UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk said on Monday.
The High Commissioner strongly condemned the rising use of armed unmanned aerial vehicles, stating that they have now become by far and away the leading cause of civilian deaths in the country.
Türk warned that the increasing reliance on drones allows hostilities to continue unabated despite the approaching rainy season, which has historically brought a lull in ground operations. He cautioned that the conflict is on the cusp of entering an even deadlier phase as parties seek to consolidate territory.
The UN rights chief called for robust measures to prevent the transfer of advanced weaponry and drones to the fighting parties. He noted that drone attacks against civilian objects will worsen if they continue to be met with utter impunity.
Most of the deaths recorded in the first quarter of the year occurred in the Kordofan region. On May 8, drone strikes on Al Quz in South Kordofan and near El Obeid in North Kordofan reportedly killed 26 civilians.
Both the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have repeatedly struck civilian infrastructure. Markets have been targeted at least 28 times, while health facilities were struck at least 12 times during the four-month period, often forcing their closure.
The use of drones is spreading beyond Kordofan and Darfur to Blue Nile, White Nile, and the capital. A strike on Khartoum International Airport on May 4 disrupted all flights, shattering a period of relative calm that had encouraged some civilians to return to the city.
Türk warned that intensified hostilities in Kordofan put civilians at risk of retaliatory attacks and further large-scale displacement. Cities such as El Obeid and Dilling remain under siege-like conditions.
The violence is also disrupting the delivery of critical humanitarian aid. Much of Sudan, including Kordofan, faces an increased risk of famine, a situation exacerbated by expected fertilizer shortages resulting from the Gulf crisis.
The High Commissioner urged all parties to facilitate the safe and voluntary movement of civilians. He emphasized that those fleeing the violence must be protected from reprisals, including summary executions and sexual violence.