A recent surge in violence in Sudan’s Nuba Mountains has escalated the country’s ongoing civil war, shifting the conflict’s focus and raising concerns over civilian safety. According to reports, a drone strike by the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) on November 30, 2025, killed dozens of people, including children and students, in the village of Kumo.
The incident occurred in a non-combat area, with the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N) stating that at least 48 civilians were killed, and eight others critically injured. The SPLM-N, which has been fighting successive Sudanese governments since 1983, accused the Sudanese army of deliberately targeting civilians. Independent sources confirmed a second strike hit the area minutes after the first, killing civilians who had rushed to assist the initial victims.
Humanitarian actors in the region have expressed deep concern over the nature of the strike, with Anthony Jamal, food security coordinator at the Sudan Relief and Rehabilitation Agency, describing it as the worst deliberate killing of civilians he has encountered. Johannes Plate, CEO of the South Kordofan Blue Nile Coordination Unit, emphasized the precision of the attack, suggesting that those responsible were aware of the presence of large numbers of civilians.
The use of drones has raised fears among local populations, who have long relied on foxholes and trenches to protect themselves from aerial bombardments. However, drones are almost inaudible until it is too late for civilians to seek shelter. The Sudanese Armed Forces have not commented on the incident, while local media reports suggest the army has recently targeted SPLM-N training sites and supply facilities.
Sudan has been embroiled in civil war since April 2023, with fighting between Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and his former deputy, Gen. Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo. The conflict has forced 14 million people from their homes, with estimates suggesting a death toll of up to 400,000. The situation has been described as the world’s worst humanitarian crisis, with famine confirmed in Kadugli, the capital of South Kordofan, and clashes intensifying between the SAF and the SPLM-N.
The Kordofan region, which hosts Sudan’s main oil fields, has become a strategic buffer zone between Darfur and eastern Sudan. The army’s aim to secure control of this oil-producing area has led to increased violence, with the SPLM-N fighting to protect the region. As the conflict continues to escalate, concerns over civilian safety and the use of drones in the region remain a pressing issue.