In brief
Sudan has suffered 18 drone attacks on its electricity network this week, striking substations in Kassala and Northern State and causing widespread outages. The government blames Ethiopia for aiding the Rapid Support Forces, while a senior RSF commander has defected after surrendering to army forces.
Sudan’s power grid has been hammered by drone attacks this week, with 18 strikes reported to hit the country’s electricity network. The most recent hits on Monday struck substations in New Halfa and Aroma in eastern Kassala state and the al‑Ghazali substation in the Northern State, triggering widespread blackouts across the affected regions.
The attacks, which are part of a concentrated campaign that has already affected over a dozen facilities this week, have left the national electricity system in disarray, forcing civilians and businesses to cope with unpredictable power cuts.
Background: The Ongoing Sudanese Conflict and the Role of the Rapid Support Forces
Since April 2023, Sudan’s army has been engaged in a brutal conflict with the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The RSF, a militia group that once supported the army, has since turned against the government, leading to a national fight for control over key provinces and infrastructure.
The civilian population has borne the brunt of the fighting, with attacks on infrastructure—including power plants and substations—exacerbating an already precarious situation. The RSF’s strategy has included targeting critical utilities, as evidenced by the week‑long series of drone strikes that have shut down large swaths of Sudan’s electricity grid.
Government Accusations, International Response, and the RSF Defection
The Sudanese government has dismissed the attacks as part of a broader sabotage campaign by the RSF with the support of Ethiopia. On Sunday, military officials formally filed complaints against Addis Ababa with the United Nations Security Council and the African Union’s Peace and Security Council, accusing the Ethiopian government of aiding the RSF.
According to a statement issued by the army, a group of RSF members surrendered to its forces in Damazin, the capital of southeastern Blue Nile state. The announcement follows the live footage released by Al Jazeera of senior RSF commander Siddiq Ander declaring his defection. In the army’s statement, it was noted that the commander had provided information about RSF operations in Damazin, including “Ethiopian support” for the RSF.
"The army said the defection was the latest in increasing defections from the paramilitary group in Blue Nile state. It added that the commander had provided information concerning the management of military operations in Damazin, including “Ethiopian support” for the RSF."
While the RSF’s recent river of defections might signal an erosion of its strength, the continued drone strikes on civilian infrastructure suggest that the group remains a formidable force capable of launching large‑scale attacks. The participation of Ethiopia, if confirmed, would raise the stakes for an already volatile region, bringing regional dynamics into play.
Key open questions persist. Whether or not Ethiopian forces substantively support the RSF in drone operations remains unverified, as Al Jazeera was unable to immediately confirm the footage of fires at the substations. Furthermore, the international community’s response, though formalized through complaints, has yet to produce tangible consequences for Ethiopia or the RSF.
The ongoing cycle of strikes and defections underscores the broader instability in Sudan’s power infrastructure. With the national grid already under strain, the repeated attacks threaten to plunge more regions into prolonged blackout, jeopardizing essential services and the daily lives of millions.
