Sudan says it downed ‘hostile’ drone near Ethiopian border

Drone downed near Kurmuk

Sudan’s Defense Ministry announced on Sunday that its forces had shot down a “hostile” drone flying over Blue Nile state near the town of Kurmuk, claiming the aircraft originated from Ethiopian territory. The ministry detailed the incident in a statement published on Facebook, noting that the unmanned aerial vehicle was detected entering Sudanese airspace from across the southeastern border. There was no immediate response from Ethiopian authorities regarding the accusation.

Pattern of aerial incidents

The interception follows a similar incident earlier this month when the Sudanese army reported downing three FH-95 drones in North Kordofan state, a region that has witnessed sustained fighting between government troops and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces. Sudanese authorities and international human rights organizations have repeatedly accused the RSF of systematically targeting civilian infrastructure throughout the conflict zones, though the group generally refrains from addressing these specific allegations. The paramilitary force maintains that it is working to “protect civilians” amid the ongoing hostilities.

Protracted conflict

Sudan has remained mired in a devastating war between the national army and the RSF since April 2023, a conflict that has claimed tens of thousands of lives and displaced approximately 13 million people according to United Nations estimates. In addition to Blue Nile and the troubled Darfur region, the three Kordofan states — North, West and South Kordofan — have experienced heavy clashes since late October, further fragmenting the nation’s territorial control.