World · Africa · 8 hrs ago
Drone strikes cause power cuts across parts of eastern Sudan
Drone strikes hit power stations in eastern Sudan on Monday, causing widespread power cuts.
Sudan’s electricity company and a government official blamed the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, which did not immediately comment.
The company said stations in four states were hit, while the official described strikes on five stations in three states.
The accounts differ on the areas affected, and the strikes could not be independently verified.
Sudan’s army and the RSF have been fighting since April 2023, when they fell out over plans to integrate their forces during a transition to civilian rule.
Power cuts threaten essential services and livelihoods, including health care, medicine storage and farming.
It is not clear when electricity will return, and past strikes have left some areas without power for days.
Drone strikes hit five power stations in Sudan on Monday, causing widespread outages, according to a government official and the state electricity company.
The Guardian said two stations were hit in each of Al-Jazira and Gedaref states and one in White Nile; the electricity company also reported outages in Sennar.
The electricity company blamed the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), but the group did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Reuters said it could not independently verify the electricity company’s account.
Residents described risks to refrigerated medicine, food supplies and irrigation as the power cuts continued.
- Who
- The RSF was blamed for the strikes by Sudan’s state electricity company and a government official.
- What
- Drone strikes hit five power stations and caused widespread power outages. The accounts differ on the affected states.
- When
- Monday, October 26, 2026.
- Where
- Sudan. The Guardian reported strikes in Al-Jazira, Gedaref and White Nile; the electricity company also reported outages in Sennar.
- Why
- Not stated.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Sudan’s army and the RSF began fighting after falling out over issues including plans to integrate their forces.
The army recaptured Al-Jazira state from the RSF, according to the Guardian.
Drone strikes killed more than 300 people and injured hundreds more, according to a UN tally cited by the Guardian.
Drone strikes hit power stations and caused outages across parts of Sudan.
- Power stations hit
- Five, according to the Guardian
- Reported affected states
- Al-Jazira, Gedaref and White Nile; the electricity company also reported outages in Sennar
- War began
- April 2023
- October drone-strike toll
- More than 300 killed in the first three weeks, according to a UN tally cited by the Guardian
3 sources
What people are saying
My son is diabetic, his insulin has to be stored in the fridge,
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.
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.