Sudanupdated 1h ago3 min read
Archive photoSudan Files UN And African Union Complaints Over Ethiopian-Territory RSF Drone Attacks
“Analyst Qureshi Awad questioned whether Sudan could establish a credible legal case”
“demand that Sudan declare war on Ethiopia based on these interventions,”
Photo: Photograph: NASA / US federal government, Public domain · Cropped for layout
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Sudan filed complaints with UN Security Council and AU over drone attacks launched from Ethiopia. Khartoum accuses Addis Ababa of backing RSF drone strikes; Addis Ababa denies supporting them.
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Khartoum accuses Addis Ababa
Sudan filed complaints with the UN Security Council and the African Union’s Peace and Security Council over drone attacks it said were launched from Ethiopian territory, and the Sudanese Foreign Ministry described the alleged use of Ethiopian territory as a hostile act that “places Ethiopia before international law.” The Sudanese Sovereignty Council, headed by army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, previously reported that more than 180 drones launched from Ethiopian territory had attacked Sudan this year, and it said the attacks killed or wounded around 500 civilians. Ethiopia denied Sudan’s accusations and said it respects Sudan’s sovereignty, while the Sudanese government said the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have been fighting the Sudanese army for more than three years.
Sudan’s Foreign Ministry said it submitted documents it maintained showed the RSF using Ethiopian territory to launch explosive-laden and missile-equipped drones against civilian facilities and vital infrastructure. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on Saturday he was “appalled” by the use of drones in the war and condemned the catastrophic toll on civilians.
Analysts question the case
Political analysts disagreed over the strength and purpose of Khartoum’s complaints, with analyst Qureshi Awad questioning whether Sudan could establish a credible legal case. Qureshi Awad said Sudan had not provided sufficient evidence to prove where the drones were launched, and he argued the complaint was primarily political, intended to prepare the public for the consequences of damage to essential services while deflecting attention from security and defence failures. Suhaib Hamid described the complaints as a significant diplomatic step, and he said detailed reports identifying alleged launch sites inside Ethiopia, alongside evidence of Addis Ababa’s knowledge, could strengthen Sudan’s position.
Al Jazeera quoted Sudanese border affairs specialist Abdul Kareem Al-Almin Ahmed saying the mutual accusations were “many and almost daily,” and he said tension inside the Sudanese army had reached high levels. Al Jazeera also quoted Al-Almin saying “They are mysterious drones, drones that reach long distances,” as he tied the damage to civilian infrastructure in SAF-controlled areas to alleged external backing.
Power outages and civilian harm
Sudan said it filed complaints after drone attacks targeting 13 electricity stations in Khartoum, Al-Jazira, Sennar and Al-Qadarif since last Monday. Sudan’s complaints followed drone attacks that targeted electricity stations and civilian sites across Khartoum, Al-Jazira, Sennar and Al-Qadarif, and Anadolu Ajansı said the Foreign Ministry said the attacks caused civilian casualties and disrupted essential services. The Anadolu Ajansı account also said Sudan’s army and the RSF have been engaged in a conflict since April 2023, and it cited UN and international estimates that the war has displaced nearly 13 million and worsened famine and the humanitarian crisis.
Genocide Watch said one-way drone attacks have killed or wounded 484 civilians since February, and it said Sudan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs accused the RSF of “brazen aggression” against “civilian sites and power stations.” Genocide Watch also cited a report from Sudan’s army-led Transitional Sovereignty Council alleging 70 assaults from February 15 to October 27 involving 187 one-way attack drones, and it said the attacks killed or wounded 484 civilians and killed 176 Sudanese soldiers.