Drone attacks extend campaign targeting Sudan’s power system

SaveSharefacebookxwhatsapp-strokecopylinkWorkers assess damage at the al-Markhiyat power station north of Omdurman on October 28, 2026, following a reported drone strike by Sudan’s paramilitary Rapid Support Forces [AFP]By Al Jazeera Staff and AnadoluPublished On 2 Nov 20262 Nov 2026Drone strikes are reported to have hit three electricity substations in eastern and northern Sudan, the latest attacks in a concentrated campaign.The attacks on Monday, which caused widespread power outages across parts of the country, brought the number of strikes reported to target Sudan’s electricity network to 18 over the past week.Recommended Stories list of 4 itemslist 1 of 4Police arrive at German university pro-Palestine protestlist 2 of 4How would Tehran respond if the US and Israel bomb Iran again?list 3 of 4How US oil firms profit $130bn from Iran war as household bills surgelist 4 of 4As Islamophobia ramps up in US midterms, Texas Muslims eye local stakesend of listSudan’s military government has claimed that Ethiopia is aiding the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) – which it has been fighting since April 2023 – in carrying out the attacks.Facilities in New Halfa and Aroma in eastern Kassala state were hit early on Monday, while the al-Ghazali substation in Sudan’s Northern State was also targeted, according to local media.Videos circulating on social media appeared to show fires at the facilities, with civil defence teams trying to extinguish the fires. Al Jazeera was not able to immediately verify the footage and reports.On Sunday, Sudan’s government said it had filed complaints against Ethiopia with the United Nations Security Council and the African Union’s Peace and Security Council, accusing Addis Ababa of involvement in the ongoing campaign of attacks on civilian infrastructure and power stations.The Sudanese army also reported on Monday that a group of RSF members had defected by surrendering to its forces in Damazin, the capital of southeastern Blue Nile state.The announcement follows a declaration, in video footage obtained exclusively by Al Jazeera, by senior RSF commander Siddiq Ander that he had defected.In a statement, the army said that the development was the latest in increasing defections from the paramilitary group in Blue Nile state.It added that the group’s commander had provided information concerning the management of military operations in Damazin, including “Ethiopian support” for the RSF.