Rapid Support Forces Strike Five Power Stations in Army-Held East

The Rapid Support Forces launched a coordinated drone campaign that damaged five power stations across eastern Sudan on Sunday, according to a government official. The strikes resulted in immediate and widespread power outages in the affected regions. The official, who requested anonymity, confirmed the targets were located in three states currently controlled by the Sudanese army.

The attack distribution was specific. Two power stations in each of the Al-Jazira and Gedaref states were hit. A single station in the White Nile state also sustained damage. This infrastructure loss cuts electricity to large parts of all three territories, which have been under army control since the conflict began in April 2023.

The strikes intensify a war that has largely shifted to aerial combat. Both the army and the RSF, formerly allies, now launch sophisticated drone attacks across the country. The United Nations reported that drone strikes killed more than 300 people and injured hundreds more in the first three weeks of October. Aid workers estimate the total death toll for the conflict has surpassed 200,000 since it began.

Residents in the affected areas report immediate disruptions to daily life and health care. Babiker Youssef, a resident of Al-Fao in Gedaref, said his home lost power in the early morning. He explained that his son is diabetic and requires refrigerated insulin. Youssef expressed concern that the medication would spoil before the power returned, potentially forcing him to replace the costly treatment.

Agricultural operations in Al-Jazira have also been set back. Abdelhafez Daafallah, a 54-year-old farmer from Al-Junaid, noted that local power had only begun to improve in recent months. A recently repaired station was destroyed in the latest strike. Daafallah said he had hoped to restart irrigation pumps to farm his land after nearly four years of inactivity, but the new damage has stalled that progress.

Commercial stockpiles are also at risk. Ibrahim Mohammed, a 37-year-old grocer in Gedaref, stated that his business already faced frequent power cuts before the attack. He now holds inventory of chicken in his refrigerators. Mohammed said he must either lose the stock entirely or sell it at a loss to avoid spoilage. The economic strain is compounded by a currency that lost more than 25% of its value in recent weeks.