Sudan Paramilitary Drone Attacks Strike Power Infrastructure, Disparity Cuts Electricity in Eastern States

A series of coordinated drone strikes launched by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has targeted five power facilities in eastern Sudan, triggering widespread electricity blackouts across three states controlled by the Sudanese army. According to an official speaking on condition of anonymity, the strikes hit two power stations in Al-Jazira, two in Gedaref, and one in White Nile state.

The military conflict between the Sudanese army and the RSF, its former ally, began in April 2023. The war in Africa's third-largest country—home to approximately 50 million people—has claimed an estimated 200,000 lives according to aid workers. The United Nations has repeatedly cautioned that ongoing strikes against energy infrastructure imperil health systems and essential services for millions of citizens who are already navigating the largest hunger crisis globally.

Escalating Drone Warfare and Civilian Toll

Drones have become the primary instrument of combat in Sudan's conflict, with both warring factions executing sophisticated attacks across the nation that regularly result in civilian casualties. UN figures indicate that drone strikes killed more than 300 people and wounded hundreds of others within the first three weeks of October alone.

Previous paramilitary drone strikes against hydroelectric dams and energy plants have routinely left regions without electricity for several consecutive days. The broader devastation caused by the war has forced a majority of Sudan's hospitals to shut down, left at least 8 million children without access to schooling, and severed basic services across expansive areas of the country.

Local Impacts on Agriculture and Commerce

The immediate repercussions of the latest grid disruptions are affecting residents, local businesses, and agricultural activities. In the Gedaref town of Al-Fao, resident Babiker Youssef expressed concern over his diabetic son's insulin, which requires refrigeration and may spoil without power. In Gedaref's commercial sector, 37-year-old grocer Ibrahim Mohammed noted that existing power outages had already disrupted business, and the new blackout leaves his refrigerated chicken stock at risk of complete loss unless sold at reduced prices.

Agriculture has also suffered renewed setbacks. In Al-Jazira state, where farmers have attempted to rehabilitate land following the army's recapture of the region from the RSF last year, the strikes targeted newly repaired infrastructure. Abdelhafez Daafallah, a 54-year-old farmer from Al-Junaid, explained that a previously destroyed power station had just been restored three months ago, which residents hoped would power irrigation pumps to resume farming after nearly four years of disruption.

The infrastructure damage arrives as Sudan contends with severe economic distress. The country faces unprecedented inflation levels, alongside a currency depreciation of more than 25% in recent weeks.