21 Dead, 40 Injured as Drone Hits Market in Sudan’s Darfur Region

At least 21 people have been killed and more than 40 injured in a drone strike on a market in Nyala, a city in Sudan’s western Darfur region, as fighting between the Sudanese military and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) continues.

The attack occurred at about 8 p.m. on Monday, October 26, 2026, in a market in northern Nyala, according to witnesses and a medical source at Nyala Hospital. The city serves as the de facto capital of the RSF-controlled areas in western Sudan.

A medic at Nyala Hospital confirmed the death toll and said more than 40 people had been wounded. However, the medic could not determine how many of those killed or injured were RSF fighters and how many were civilians.

A resident said the market was frequented by young men, including members of the paramilitary group. The identities of the victims and the intended target of the strike had not been independently established.

READ ALSO:

• Ansaru Claims Killing of Katsina Cleric Masussuka as Police Launch Manhunt
• MURIC Accuses Police Contractor of Refusing to Rebuild Mosque at Lagos Barracks, Demands Equal Treatment
• Nigerian Navy Recruitment 2026: October 31 Deadline, Full Requirements and How to Apply

The Sudanese military has regularly carried out airstrikes on Nyala, where the RSF has established a rival administration. However, responsibility for the latest market strike had not been independently confirmed.

The attack comes amid an intensification of drone warfare in Sudan, with unmanned aircraft increasingly being used in the conflict. Reports citing United Nations figures said drone attacks killed more than 300 people and injured hundreds more during the first three weeks of October.

The conflict between Sudan’s armed forces and the RSF began in April 2023 and has triggered widespread destruction, mass displacement and severe food shortages. Millions of people have been forced from their homes, while access to healthcare and other essential services has deteriorated in many parts of the country.

The latest strike adds to concerns over the safety of civilians in areas affected by the fighting, particularly markets and other public places where armed personnel and ordinary residents may be present.

Further information about the victims, the intended target and responsibility for the Nyala attack was not immediately available.