A drone attack launched by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) struck a military airport in Port Sudan on Sunday, marking the first time the city—Sudan’s de facto capital since the war began—has been targeted in the two-year conflict, according to the Sudanese army.
Army spokesperson Nabil Abdullah said the RSF deployed multiple "suicide drones" targeting the Osman Digna Air Base, a goods warehouse, and civilian facilities. No casualties were reported, but the attack caused "limited damage." The RSF has not commented on the incident.
Port Sudan, a key Red Sea port, had previously been spared bombardment and served as a refuge for displaced civilians, government officials, and United Nations agencies.
Deepening Humanitarian Crisis
Sudan descended into war in April 2023 when a power struggle erupted between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the RSF, derailing a planned transition to civilian rule. The conflict has killed at least 150,000 people and displaced 12 million, according to estimates. The UN has called it the world’s worst humanitarian crisis, with over 30 million in need of aid and millions facing famine.
Before Sunday’s attack, Port Sudan had been a relative safe haven. After losing control of the capital, Khartoum, early in the war, the military-led government under General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan relocated to the coastal city. Hundreds of thousands of civilians and international organizations followed.
A traveler at Port Sudan’s airport told AFP they were evacuated mid-journey after the strike. Unverified social media footage showed explosions and plumes of black smoke. The airport was closed, and flights suspended, a government source confirmed.
A Divided Nation
The war has split Sudan into rival zones. The RSF, led by General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo (Hemedti), controls much of Darfur and parts of the south, while the military holds the east and north, including Port Sudan.
Sunday’s strike follows a recent escalation in RSF drone attacks on army-held territory. On Saturday, Kassala, near Sudan’s eastern border, was also targeted—an unusual strike given its distance from RSF positions.
Though the SAF has regained some ground, including parts of Khartoum in March, analysts say neither side can achieve total victory. The International Crisis Group warns the conflict—Sudan’s third civil war in 70 years—is the most devastating yet, deepening divisions and destabilizing the nation.
Failed Peace Efforts and Foreign Involvement
The war stems from a 2021 coup that left Sudan under military rule, with al-Burhan and Hemedti at odds over integrating the RSF into the army and transitioning to civilian governance.
Despite international mediation attempts, peace talks have failed. Both factions receive foreign backing, fueling a protracted conflict with no end in sight.