Sudan’s civil war has entered a volatile new phase as the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) launch sustained drone attacks on Port Sudan, the wartime capital and humanitarian hub. The shift, described by experts as a “shock and awe” campaign, marks a strategic escalation by the RSF after being driven out of Khartoum by the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF).
The attacks, unprecedented in both scope and reach, have disrupted vital infrastructure, causing widespread power outages and water shortages in Port Sudan. Analysts say this demonstrates the RSF’s growing capacity for remote warfare and its ability to strike deep into government-controlled territory.
Sudanese analyst Kholood Khair suggests the RSF’s goal is to undermine perceptions of SAF dominance, projecting a message that territorial control does not equal governability. “You can take Khartoum or Port Sudan,” she paraphrased the RSF’s message, “but you won’t be able to govern them.”
The RSF has reportedly used kamikaze drones and more advanced unmanned aerial vehicles, including Chinese-made CH-95s. These developments have closed the gap in aerial capabilities between the paramilitary group and the national army — an uncommon scenario in conventional warfare.
Experts point to foreign support as key to the RSF’s drone campaign. The SAF has accused the United Arab Emirates of supplying drones to the RSF, prompting a diplomatic fallout. Though the UAE denies these claims, a U.S.-funded report suggests there is “near certainty” of Emirati involvement. Similarly, the SAF is believed to receive drones and munitions from Iran and Turkey, though both nations deny these claims.
The RSF’s use of long-range drones to strike Port Sudan — including attacks on the international airport, fuel depots, and power stations — threatens to cripple humanitarian aid and destabilize Red Sea navigation.
“This is a war of technology,” says analyst Justin Lynch. “And it’s reshaping how civil wars are fought.”
As the conflict enters its third year, the drone warfare arms race signals a deepening crisis with far-reaching regional and humanitarian consequences.
