Sudan Capital Hit by Drone Attacks a Day After RSF Agrees to Truce – Reports

The conflict in Sudan has taken another tragic turn. Just one day after the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) agreed to a tentative ceasefire, reports emerged that the capital city, Khartoum, was hit by a series of drone attacks, reigniting fears that peace remains far from reach. The incident highlights how fragile Sudan’s current situation is, as both sides continue to exchange blame and civilians bear the brunt of the violence.

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A Ceasefire That Never Held

The latest attacks came barely 24 hours after RSF leaders publicly announced a humanitarian truce aimed at allowing aid to reach trapped civilians and the wounded. For many, this announcement brought a rare flicker of hope following months of fighting between the RSF and Sudan’s national army.

But by the next morning, that hope was crushed. Explosions rocked Khartoum’s skyline, with drones reportedly targeting areas near key military installations and residential neighborhoods. Witnesses described scenes of panic as plumes of smoke filled the sky and families scrambled to find shelter.

“I thought the truce meant we could finally breathe,” said one Khartoum resident in a phone interview. “Then I heard the first explosion, and everything changed again.”

Local hospitals, already struggling with shortages of medicine and electricity, reported a new influx of patients suffering from shrapnel wounds and burns.

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Conflicting Accounts

As with many moments in Sudan’s ongoing crisis, the truth about who was responsible remains murky. The Sudanese army accused the RSF of violating the ceasefire with drone strikes, calling it a “betrayal of peace efforts.” RSF officials, on the other hand, denied involvement and accused the army of staging attacks to justify continued fighting.

The back-and-forth accusations have become a tragic pattern since the conflict erupted in April 2023, when tensions between the two groups—once allies—boiled over into open warfare. The Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), led by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and the RSF, commanded by General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo (known as Hemeti), have been battling for control of the country ever since.

International mediators, including the African Union and the United Nations, have struggled to keep both sides at the negotiating table. Every attempt at peace so far has collapsed within days, sometimes even hours.

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Civilians in the Crossfire

For ordinary Sudanese citizens, the political blame game offers little comfort. Khartoum, once a bustling capital filled with commerce and culture, has turned into a battlefield. Families live without steady access to food, water, or power. Schools remain closed, hospitals have been destroyed, and humanitarian agencies warn that millions face famine and displacement.

According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), more than 10 million people have been forced to flee their homes since the conflict began, making Sudan one of the world’s worst displacement crises. Aid convoys continue to face obstacles due to ongoing violence, looting, and bureaucratic delays.

“The situation is beyond catastrophic,” said a UN official based in Nairobi. “Every time we think there’s a chance for peace, the bombs start falling again.”

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International Reactions

World leaders have condemned the renewed violence, urging both sides to honor their commitments to the ceasefire. The United States, European Union, and African Union have all released statements calling for restraint.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the drone strikes were “deeply troubling” and emphasized the need for “unhindered humanitarian access and immediate accountability for those responsible.”

Meanwhile, regional powers like Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Ethiopia are pushing for renewed dialogue. However, their efforts are complicated by shifting alliances and the sheer difficulty of enforcing peace in a country so fractured by war.

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The RSF’s Growing Reach

The RSF, once part of Sudan’s national military, evolved from the infamous Janjaweed militias that operated during the Darfur conflict in the early 2000s. Since then, the group has grown into a powerful paramilitary force with access to advanced weapons, including drones allegedly obtained through foreign support.

Military analysts warn that the RSF’s ability to launch air attacks—if confirmed—marks a dangerous escalation. Drone warfare allows combatants to strike from afar, making battles even harder to predict and control.

“The use of drones in Khartoum shows that this conflict is entering a new, more destructive phase,” said one analyst from the International Crisis Group. “It also signals how both sides may be receiving external backing.”

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A Nation on the Brink

For Sudan, each broken truce pushes peace further away. The conflict has already decimated the nation’s economy and social infrastructure. Banks have shut down, hospitals are barely functioning, and food prices have skyrocketed.

Despite these challenges, many Sudanese citizens continue to show extraordinary resilience. Local volunteer networks known as “resistance committees” organize community aid, distribute food, and help families evacuate dangerous areas. Their courage has become a symbol of hope amid devastation.

Still, hope can only last so long without action. Human rights groups continue to urge the international community to increase diplomatic pressure on both the RSF and the SAF, calling for sanctions, arms embargoes, and expanded humanitarian corridors.

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Conclusion: Fragile Hopes in a Shattered City

The drone attacks on Khartoum, coming just one day after an agreed truce, underscore the tragic instability gripping Sudan. Each promise of peace seems to crumble under the weight of mistrust and power struggles.

As the dust settles over the capital, ordinary citizens remain trapped between two warring forces, clinging to the hope that one day, the sound of drones will be replaced by silence—and peace will no longer be just another broken promise.

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