Paramilitary drone and ground attacks kill nine in North Darfur

June 19, 2026 (MALHA, Sudan) – Sudanese paramilitary forces killed nine civilians and wounded several others in drone and ground attacks in North Darfur state, the Emergency Lawyers human rights group said on Friday.

The Rapid Support Forces (RSF) targeted the Malha and Um Baru localities, according to the group. The attacks come amid months of escalating violence and a deteriorating humanitarian crisis in northwestern North Darfur near the Chadian border.

A drone strike on Thursday hit the Um Bayada market in Malha locality, completely burning down the market and causing widespread destruction to civilian property, the legal group said in a statement.

Another attack targeted a passenger vehicle at the Sabreen market in the same area, killing nine civilians and wounding others. The group warned the death toll could rise due to ongoing attacks and difficult conditions on the ground.

Simultaneous ground and drone attacks have also targeted several villages and the Orshi dam area in Um Baru locality since June 14. Paramilitary fighters stormed markets, looted and torched villages, and destroyed local livelihoods, triggering fresh displacement.

The rights group said the systematic escalation against civilians could amount to gross violations of international humanitarian law. It called for an immediate halt to attacks on civilian infrastructure, the protection of markets and villages, and unhindered humanitarian access.