A groundbreaking investigation by the Sudan Witness Project has documented systematic aerial attacks on civilian infrastructure that have resulted in at least 1,700 fatalities since the conflict began in April 2023. The comprehensive study represents the most extensive dataset compiled on military airstrikes in Sudan’s ongoing civil war, revealing disturbing patterns of violence against non-combatants.
The research, conducted by the Center for Information Resilience with funding from the British foreign ministry, analyzed 384 airstrikes occurring between April 2023 and July 2025. The findings indicate that the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) have repeatedly employed unguided munitions in densely populated areas, including residential neighborhoods, marketplaces, educational institutions, and displacement camps.
According to project director Mark Snoeck, the evidence demonstrates a clear failure by the SAF to implement adequate precautions to prevent civilian casualties. “The main patterns that emerge are repeated hits on residential neighbourhoods and markets,” Snoeck stated, “as well as a large number of alleged strikes on essential humanitarian and medical facilities.”
The investigation employed rigorous open-source verification methodologies, cross-referencing social media footage, satellite imagery, and ground reports to establish attack credibility. Among the most troubling findings was the identification of an undetonated SH-250 bomb manufactured by Sudan’s Military Industry Corporation in the Zamzam displacement camp in North Darfur.
Notable incidents documented include:
– The bombing of Hamrat al-Sheikh Market in North Kordofan that killed 30 and injured 100 civilians
– A August 2024 strike on a hospital in el-Daein that resulted in 16 fatalities including children and healthcare workers
– February 2025 attacks in Nyala that struck residential areas near an eye hospital, killing 63 people
– The October 2024 destruction of al-Kuma market in North Darfur that left 65 dead and 200 injured
While the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have faced international condemnation for ethnic violence in Darfur, the report highlights that the SAF’s aerial campaign has similarly caused extensive civilian suffering. Both conflict parties have increasingly incorporated drone warfare into their tactics, with recent months showing a shift toward unmanned aerial attacks.
Justin Lynch of the Conflict Insights Group characterized the conflict as “a war against civilians,” noting that “air power and other heavy weapons disproportionately target civilian, more than military, sites.” International observers have condemned the pattern of attacks as potential war crimes, with a British foreign office official stating that perpetrators “must be held accountable” regardless of affiliation.
The full Sudan Witness report, featuring an interactive map visualizing the scale and impact of airstrikes, is scheduled for publication on December 10.