Drone Attacks by Sudan’s RSF Hit Khartoum, Trigger Widespread Power Outages
Sudan’s paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) launched drone attacks across Khartoum on Tuesday, targeting military and civilian infrastructure and causing major power outages in Omdurman, according to eyewitnesses and Sudan Tribune reporters.
Explosions were reported in northern Omdurman, where suicide drones struck the Wadi Seidna military area and the Al-Markhiyat electricity substation, triggering blackouts across the city. Circulating video footage showed transformers ablaze at the Al-Markhiyat substation, highlighting the scale of the damage.
Additional attacks hit the Al-Kalakla suburb, near the Yarmouk military factory, and the Al-Jaili area, about 40 km north of Khartoum Bahri, home to Sudan’s main oil refinery. The RSF had controlled the Al-Jaili refinery since the conflict’s start in April 2023 until the army reclaimed it in January.
The drone strikes come as the Sudanese government seeks to restore stability to Khartoum, with plans to reopen Khartoum International Airport in October. Authorities are expected to deploy anti-aircraft defences to protect strategic facilities from further attacks.
Similar RSF strikes in May disrupted electricity supply in Omdurman, one of Khartoum’s most populous and economically active areas. The recent attacks coincide with intensified army operations in Kordofan, aimed at reclaiming key cities and lifting the RSF’s siege on El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur.
About the Author
