Nyala, Sudan – The Rapid Support Forces (RSF) said it shot down a Turkish‑made Bayraktar Akinci drone over the Nyala area on Wednesday, the fourth consecutive day of heavy bombardment in the city. RSF field commanders released video footage that they said showed the wreckage of the unmanned aircraft in the Dama sector north of Nyala. The commanders claimed the drone was intercepted while RSF fighters were defending the city, but independent verification of the aircraft type has not been possible.
Residents of Nyala reported fresh drone strikes on Wednesday morning. Witnesses heard two explosions at about 08:00 and another two at roughly 10:00, though they could not confirm the exact targets or any casualties. Earlier in the week, drones struck houses and warehouses in the city’s northern districts, and an RSF meeting headquarters reportedly survived an attack shortly after a gathering there.
Nyala, the administrative centre of the RSF‑aligned Sudan Founding Alliance (Tasees), has been repeatedly hit by drone strikes aimed at military installations, markets, residential neighbourhoods and other civilian facilities. The pattern of attacks mirrors a broader trend across Sudan, where the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights has documented at least 880 civilian deaths from drone strikes between January and April, accounting for more than 80 % of all conflict‑related civilian fatalities in that period.
The neighbouring Mellit locality in North Darfur also experienced drone activity on Tuesday. Local sources told Radio Dabanga that drones targeted the south‑western and north‑eastern outskirts of the town, but no civilian casualties were reported.
In a separate development, the RSF announced that it had retaken control of the Mogja area in Blue Nile state, a strategic point seized by the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) three weeks earlier. RSF commanders posted videos from within Mogja, declaring the area under their control and signalling intentions to push further. Analysts note that Mogja is a key gateway to Ed Damazin and lies within the security perimeter surrounding the Roseires Dam, Sudan’s largest hydro‑electric facility. The RSF’s claim coincided with a visit by SAF Lieutenant General Yasir El Atta to the Fourth Infantry Division in Ed Damazin, where he praised troop readiness and recent gains.
The renewed drone activity and the contest for Mogja underscore the escalating intensity of the conflict in Sudan’s western and eastern fronts. International observers have warned that the proliferation of armed drones is increasing civilian exposure to violence and complicating efforts to achieve a ceasefire. As both the RSF and SAF continue to vie for control of strategic locations, further attacks on populated areas remain a distinct possibility. Monitoring agencies and humanitarian groups are calling for greater protection of civilians and for all parties to adhere to international humanitarian law.
