RSF drone strikes on power stations cause widespread blackouts in eastern Sudan

Attacks on five stations cut power in Al-Jazira, Gedaref and White Nile states, deepening a humanitarian crisis as civilians report spoiled food and medicine fears.

By LineZotpaper AI staff

Published26 October 2026

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Sudan's paramilitary Rapid Support Forces have struck five power stations in a coordinated drone attack, cutting power across large parts of the country's east and deepening a humanitarian crisis that the UN calls the world's largest hunger crisis.

Sudan's paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have launched a coordinated drone attack against five power stations in the east of the country, causing mass power outages in army-controlled Al-Jazira, Gedaref and White Nile states, a government official has said.

The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said two power stations were hit in each of Al-Jazira and Gedaref states and one in White Nile state, resulting in power outages across large parts of these three states.

The strikes compound a dire humanitarian situation in Sudan, which has been ravaged by war between the army and the RSF since April 2023. The United Nations has repeatedly warned that regular attacks on power stations threaten health and services for millions of people who are already facing the world's largest hunger crisis.

Residents described the immediate impact. Babiker Youssef, speaking by phone from Al-Fao in Gedaref, said the power had been out since early morning. "My son is diabetic, his insulin has to be stored in the fridge," he said. "We have no idea when the power will come back."

In Al-Jazira state, farmer Abdelhafez Daafallah said by phone from Al-Junaid town: "The electricity had just started to improve three months ago, the power station the militia had destroyed was just repaired and we had hope our irrigation pumps would finally start running again. We hoped we would be able to finally get back to farming, but now the station has been hit."

In Gedaref, grocer Ibrahim Mohammed said he was already facing power cuts for hours before the strike. "Now I have chicken in the fridge, we either lose our entire stock, or will be forced to sell it off at any price, which is still a loss," he said.

According to a United Nations tally, drone strikes killed more than 300 people and injured hundreds more in the first three weeks of October. Aid workers estimate the war has killed more than 200,000 people. At least 8 million children are out of school, and swathes of the country lack access to basic services. Sudan is also grappling with unprecedented inflation and its currency has lost more than 25% of its value in recent weeks.

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Analysis

Why This Matters

The attack deliberately targets civilian infrastructure in army-held areas, compounding what the UN describes as the world's largest hunger crisis where most hospitals have already closed.
Widespread power outages threaten food storage, medical refrigeration and water pumping, directly endangering millions of people across multiple states.
The strikes underline the central role of drones in the conflict, with both sides using the technology in ways that have killed hundreds of civilians in a single month.

Background

Sudan has been mired in a civil war since April 2023 between the army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, who were formerly allies. The east of the country, where the strikes hit, is controlled by the army. The conflict has killed an estimated 200,000 people according to aid workers, and created what the UN describes as the world's largest hunger crisis. Drone strikes have become a central tactic, killing hundreds of civilians in October alone.

Key Perspectives

Government official (anonymous): confirmed the RSF drone strikes hit five power stations, causing widespread blackouts across three states. Babiker Youssef (resident of Al-Fao, Gedaref): described a threat to his diabetic son's insulin due to the power loss, and said there was no idea when it would return. Abdelhafez Daafallah (farmer, Al-Jazira): said a power station destroyed by the militia had just been repaired and expressed despair at losing his chance to farm again. Ibrahim Mohammed (grocer, Gedaref): said power cuts before the strike were already a problem and the extended blackout risks spoiling his entire stock of chicken, forcing a loss-making sale. United Nations: has repeatedly warned that regular attacks on power stations threaten health and services for millions facing the world's largest hunger crisis, and tallied over 300 drone-strike deaths in the first three weeks of October.

What to Watch

Whether the army can repair the damaged power stations quickly to prevent further humanitarian damage, given the pattern of repair and re-attack.
The trajectory of the currency and inflation, which has accelerated recently and is worsening the crisis for ordinary Sudanese.
Possible international pressure or UN Security Council action to restrict the use of drones against civilian infrastructure.

Sources

Sudan paramilitary drone strikes cause mass power cuts in eastern states · The Guardian