Wedding celebration turns tragic in Sudan’s Darfur drone strike, at least 30 killed

A wedding celebration in Sudan’s conflict torn Darfur region turned into a scene of devastation after a drone strike hit the gathering, killing at least 30 civilians , including women and children, according to the United Nations.

The attack took place in the town of Kutum in North Darfur, in western Sudan , a region already battered by ongoing clashes between rival military forces.

UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said during a briefing that the strike targeted a civilian wedding ceremony , calling it part of a growing and alarming pattern of drone warfare in the country. He stressed that attacks on civilians and civilian spaces are unacceptable under international humanitarian norms.

The conflict in Sudan between the national army, the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has been ongoing since April 2023 . The war has killed tens of thousands of people and displaced millions, with aid agencies warning that the true toll may be significantly higher.

Local rights groups, including the Emergency Lawyers and Resistance Committees in el Fasher, blamed the attack on the Sudanese Armed Forces. However, there has been no official response from the military so far.

The strike adds to a series of escalating drone attacks across Darfur , where civilians have increasingly borne the brunt of the war. Humanitarian agencies say the violence has intensified in recent months, worsening an already fragile crisis.

Earlier reports have also documented repeated attacks on hospitals and medical facilities, further weakening Sudan’s already overstretched healthcare system.

Medical charity Doctors Without Borders (MSF) has condemned such strikes, warning that repeated attacks on health facilities and medical staff are pushing the country’s medical system toward collapse.

Aid workers and analysts say the surge in drone warfare across regions including Darfur and Kordofan is not only increasing civilian deaths but also severely disrupting relief operations at a time when humanitarian needs are rising sharply.