Sudan27 September, 20263 min read
Sudanese Army Downs Chinese-Made Drones as RSF Strikes Am Aliila Fuel Depots
This article is an automated aggregation of coverage from news outlets. Our editorials offer in-depth analysis curated by the NewsCord team.
Sudanese army downed a Chinese-made FH-95/DF-95 drone in North Darfur. RSF drones struck the Umm Alila fuel depot east of Wad Madani.
Drones Hit Fuel Depots
The Sudanese army announced it downed an "enemy drone in North Kordofan state" and said its air defenses also managed to down insurgent drones belonging to the Rapid Support Forces as the RSF targeted the Am Aliila fuel depots in central Sudan. Eyewitnesses from neighboring villages said they heard several explosions before seeing columns of smoke rising from fuel tankers in the Am Aliila area in Al-Jazira state, and Sudanese media attributed the attack to the Rapid Support Forces. The Anadolu Ajansı report said the army downed an "enemy drone of the DF-95 type" east of the Kalmondo area in North Darfur state, and it described the DF-95 as a Chinese-made drone designed for reconnaissance, surveillance, and electronic warfare.
The Anadolu Ajansı report added that the army said it had shot down another drone of the same model in North Kordofan on Thursday, calling it the second such incident within a day and the third within a week in the state. The Al-Jazeera Net report said Sudanese authorities and rights organizations accuse the Rapid Support Forces of striking civilian facilities using suicide drones, while the RSF usually does not comment and says it is working to "protect civilians."
Shootdowns and Defiant Leadership
Dabanga Radio TV Online said paramilitary Rapid Support Forces drones struck the Umm Alila fuel depot east of Wad Madani in El Gezira early on Sunday, triggering fires as Sudan’s warring sides reported further drone activity across the country.
Civil Defence said it contained the fire and prevented it from reaching other tanks, with damage limited to the petrol and diesel tanks, while the Sudanese Armed Forces said on Thursday that its air defenses shot down an FH-95 drone northeast of El Kokiti in North Kordofan.
The Free Malaysia Today report said Burhan told a youth event in capital Khartoum, "Our goal is to eliminate this militia no matter how long it takes," and it said he added Sudan would not submit to "blackmail".
The Free Malaysia Today report also said the US denied a visa for the country’s de facto leader to attend the UN General Assembly earlier this week, and it quoted Burhan saying, "We do not want a visa from any country. We will stay here and die with you in this country,".
The بوابة الوسط report said al-Burhan confirmed that fighting would continue, and it quoted him saying, "We do not want a visa to a country or anyone’s permission. We will stay with you here and die here."
Hospitals, Displacement, and Pressure
The صدى البلد report said the Sudan Doctors Network accused the Rapid Support Forces militia of looting the Sudari Rural Hospital in North Kordofan and destroying its equipment after the army announced regaining control of the town. The Sudan Doctors Network said the hospital had provided services to more than 50,000 households before the war broke out, and it described the looting and destruction as depriving civilians of essential healthcare services at a time when medical needs are rising due to the war. The Al-Jazeera Net report said that since April 2023, Sudan has been witnessing a war between the army and the Rapid Support Forces following a dispute over unifying the military institution, which has left tens of thousands dead and about 13 million displaced, according to UN and international estimates.
The بوابة الوسط report said international pressure to halt the fighting included Washington submitting a UN proposal to broaden the arms embargo on Darfur to include the entire country, and it said the proposal includes adding drones to the embargo and increasing UN monitors. The صدى البلد report said the Sudanese army announced it had regained control of the Sudari area and stressed that it inflicted losses on the RSF militia, while it also said the army announced regaining control of 11 areas including Hamra al-Waz in the Jabra al-Sheikh area.