AL-DIBAB, Sudan — A drone strike on Sunday evening killed 80 people, primarily commuters, near a market in the southern Sudanese town of al-Dibab. The attack in West Kordofan state represents one of the deadliest single incidents since the war erupted in April 2023.
Ahmed Wadi, a witness to the strike, said he helped bury 50 bodies, including his brother Mohamed. Wadi communicated using a satellite internet connection, circumventing a local communications blackout. He said 47 other injured individuals were transported to al-Mujlad, the nearest town.
A medical source, who requested anonymity for safety reasons, confirmed that 30 of those transported from al-Dibab to al-Mujlad later died from their injuries. The medic also reported that a separate drone strike on al-Mujlad itself injured four people, who are currently receiving treatment. The total confirmed fatalities from the al-Dibab incident stand at 80.
Wadi said the drone struck the transport hub twice, with a 10-minute interval between attacks. The location is a common gathering point for people traveling back to their villages after the market concludes.
The RSF-declared administration, known as Tasis, accused the Sudanese armed forces of conducting Sunday's strike. West Kordofan state, where al-Dibab is located, remains entirely under the control of the Rapid Support Forces.
The conflict began in April 2023 as a power struggle between the Sudanese armed forces, led by Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and the Rapid Support Forces, commanded by Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo. Initial violence centered in the capital, Khartoum, before spreading across the country.
Drone strikes have become increasingly prevalent throughout the war. Between January and April, drone strikes killed at least 880 civilians, accounting for more than 80 percent of all civilian fatalities directly linked to the conflict.
The al-Dibab strike follows a similar incident on Friday in Nyala, the capital of South Darfur state, where drone strikes targeted a busy livestock market. The SAF said its forces killed RSF fighters in that attack, while the RSF accused the military of killing 30 civilians.
The ongoing fighting has resulted in hundreds of thousands of deaths and displaced many more people from their homes. Foreign powers with vested interests continue to support various sides, contributing to the prolonged conflict.
Rosemary DiCarlo, the United Nations undersecretary-general for political and peacebuilding affairs, warned the Security Council last week that the conflict and humanitarian crisis are deteriorating. "There is no breakthrough on the horizon" for the situation, DiCarlo said.
She noted that the warring parties "are not moving closer to dialogue" and "seem to believe that they can make greater gains on the battlefield and that continued external support will allow them to pursue their objectives by force."
