A deadly drone strike targeted a bustling marketplace in Sudan’s North Darfur state over the weekend, resulting in at least 10 fatalities according to local emergency responders. The attack struck Al-Harra market in the paramilitary-controlled town of Malha on Saturday, igniting fires that consumed multiple shops and caused substantial property damage.
The North Darfur Emergency Rooms Council, part of Sudan’s extensive network of volunteer aid organizations, confirmed the incident while refraining from attributing responsibility to any specific faction. Neither the Sudanese army nor the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) paramilitary group have issued statements regarding the attack.
This violence occurs amid intensified fighting across multiple regions of Sudan, particularly in South Kordofan where the conflict’s current epicenter has emerged. The strategic city of Kadugli, already grappling with famine conditions, witnessed the complete evacuation of humanitarian workers on Sunday due to deteriorating security. This evacuation followed the United Nations’ decision to relocate its logistical hub from the besieged city.
The ongoing civil war, which erupted in April 2023 between the national army and RSF forces, has created one of the world’s most severe humanitarian crises. The conflict has claimed tens of thousands of lives while displacing nearly 12 million people—the largest displacement crisis globally. Recent RSF advancements have shifted the battlefield toward resource-rich Kordofan, a critical junction connecting army-controlled northern territories with RSF-dominated western regions.
Communications blackouts and widespread famine have compounded the suffering, with Kadugli residents reportedly foraging in nearby forests for sustenance. The conflict has effectively partitioned Sudan into separate zones of control, with the army maintaining authority over northern, eastern, and central areas while the RSF commands all five state capitals in Darfur and significant southern territories.