Drone strike kills 30 at displacement camp in Sudan’s Blue Nile, authorities say

October 9, 2026 (ED DAMAZIN) – A drone strike killed at least 30 people and wounded dozens at a displacement camp in Sudan’s southeastern Blue Nile region on Friday, local authorities said, blaming the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

The strike hit civilians prospecting for gold near the Abu Shandi camp in Wad al-Mahi locality, which shelters families displaced by fighting across the region, local sources said. Most of the casualties were women and children.

The Blue Nile regional government said in a statement that 30 people died in the attack and called for an international investigation to hold those responsible to account.

The RSF, which is locked in an escalating conflict with the Sudanese army, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Local authorities in Wad al-Mahi also condemned the strike, saying attacks on shelter centres exacerbate the humanitarian plight of vulnerable families and violate international law protecting civilians in armed conflict.

Fighting in Blue Nile intensified in January as an alliance between the RSF and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North advanced against the military, seizing the border towns of Kurmuk and Geissan near Ethiopia as well as two strategic bases.