Sudan’s civil war, raging since April 2023 between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and Rapid Support Forces (RSF), has unleashed a deadly drone era, slaughtering civilians and shattering infrastructure across cities. Commercial UAVs, smuggled despite sanctions, have crippled power grids and fuel depots, transforming flat terrains into kill zones with strikes reaching 4,000km.
RSF’s Lethal Evolution from Janjaweed Militia
Born from Darfur’s notorious Janjaweed—accused of atrocities like village burnings—the RSF under Hemedti formalized in 2013, gaining UAE ties via Yemen fights. Now wielding Chinese Wing Loong II, Turkish Bayraktar TB2, Serbian FH-95s with 250kg payloads, and quadcopters hurling mortar bombs, RSF strikes distant targets like Port Sudan from western bases.
SAF’s Iranian Arsenal Shifts Sky Dominance
SAF counters with Iranian Mohajer-6 drones carrying 40kg munitions over 2,000km, sourced via Egypt, Russia, Eritrea to Port Sudan, trading for Red Sea bases. Over 1,003 strikes hit Khartoum (440), Kordofans, and Darfurs, killing thousands—RSF 780+, SAF 1,800+ per ACLED.
Foreign Meddlers’ Smuggling Networks Exposed
UAE allegedly flies 86+ cargoes to Chad’s Amdjarass for RSF via Libya’s Haftar, Somalia, CAR; SAF gets Iran/Russia via sea-air hubs, funding via gold. Attacks like RSF’s triple kindergarten/hospital hit in Kalogi (114 dead) and Port Sudan airbase swarm spotlight indiscriminate horror.
Grim Future: Militia Drones Redefine Fragile Wars
Experts warn Sudan’s model—improvised, externally backed UAVs—empowers militias to bleed states without air forces, predicting copycats in unstable regions.
