Sudan’s fragile infrastructure and worsening humanitarian emergency took a new blow this week after drone strikes by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) knocked out electricity in parts of Khartoum state, intensifying the war’s impact beyond the battlefield.
According to eyewitness accounts, RSF drones struck the Wadi Seidna military area and the Al-Markhiyat electricity substation in Omdurman, setting transformers ablaze and plunging large parts of the city into darkness. Footage circulating on social media showed flames and explosions at the substation, underscoring the vulnerability of Sudan’s critical infrastructure to targeted attacks.
The strikes extended to Khartoum’s Al-Kalakla district, home to a military factory and Al-Jaili, site of Sudan’s main oil refinery, facilities central to both the country’s defense and economic survival.
No casualties were reported, but the damage is significant. Beyond the immediate blackout, the attacks expose the growing risks to Sudan’s energy grid, its industrial base, and the broader economy, already strained by 17 months of civil conflict.
The latest escalation illustrates how Sudan’s war is no longer confined to military frontlines. By targeting energy and industrial infrastructure, the RSF is striking at the arteries of daily life, crippling public services and deepening civilian suffering.
Omdurman’s blackout is not just an inconvenience, it affects hospitals already struggling with shortages, schools that rely on electricity for basic operations, and small businesses that form the backbone of local economies. With power cuts disrupting refrigeration, communications, and water pumping systems, humanitarian groups warn of cascading effects, especially in a city hosting large numbers of displaced families.
The attack also raised alarms over Sudan’s oil sector. The Al-Jaili refinery provides most of the country’s fuel. Any sustained disruption could halt electricity generation, transport, and relief operations nationwide.
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