A drone attack on Sunday evening near a market in southern Sudan's West Kordofan state killed 80 people, primarily commuters heading home. The strike occurred in the town of al-Dibab, a transport hub where many gather after market day to travel to nearby villages.

The conflict in Sudan, which began in April 2023, is a power struggle between the Sudanese armed forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). This drone attack is one of the single deadliest incidents since the war erupted.

Witness Ahmed Wadi described the harrowing scene, stating he helped bury 50 bodies, including his brother Mohamed. He reported that the drone struck the transport hub twice, with a 10-minute interval. An additional 47 injured individuals were taken to the nearest town, al-Mujlad, where a medical source confirmed 30 of them died from their injuries. In total, the medical source stated 80 people were killed in al-Dibab, with another drone strike in al-Mujlad injuring four people.

The RSF-declared administration in West Kordofan accused the army of carrying out the strike. The entire West Kordofan state is currently under RSF control. The use of drones has significantly escalated in the ongoing war, contributing to a large number of civilian casualties.

Between January and April of this year, drone strikes were responsible for at least 880 civilian deaths in Sudan, accounting for over 80% of all conflict-related civilian fatalities. This follows similar incidents, such as drone strikes on a livestock market in Nyala, South Darfur, on Friday. The SAF claimed those strikes targeted RSF fighters, while the RSF alleged that 30 civilians were killed.

The fighting between the SAF and RSF has resulted in hundreds of thousands of deaths and displaced millions more. International observers have noted that foreign powers with vested interests are supporting different sides in the conflict, fueling its continuation.

The communications blackout in the region made it difficult to ascertain immediate details, with witnesses like Wadi relying on satellite internet to relay information. The anonymity of the medical source also underscores the dangerous conditions and potential repercussions for those involved in documenting the war's toll.

Questions remain about the specific targeting protocols of drone warfare in Sudan and the accountability mechanisms in place for civilian casualties. The ongoing escalation of aerial attacks raises serious concerns for the safety of civilians caught in the crossfire of this protracted conflict.