A drone strike near a courthouse in the central Sudanese town of Umm Rawaba killed 13 people and injured 22 others on Tuesday, according to medical officials and eyewitnesses. The attack, attributed to Sudan’s paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), occurred in an army-controlled area of North Kordofan state.

The strike targeted a crowded location outside the courthouse where residents had gathered to complete legal and administrative tasks. Witnesses reported seeing the drone impact a tree near the building, followed by a loud explosion. Residents rushed to assist those wounded by the blast, but some victims died at the scene, according to eyewitness accounts.

A medical source at the local hospital initially reported 12 fatalities, but later confirmed a 13th victim had succumbed to injuries. The town of Umm Rawaba, situated along a key corridor linking central and western Sudan, has remained under the control of the Sudanese army despite ongoing attacks in the surrounding areas.

The incident is part of an intensifying pattern of drone warfare between the Sudanese army and the RSF, which have been engaged in armed conflict since April 2023. Both sides have increasingly relied on unmanned aerial vehicles in their operations, resulting in widespread casualties. According to United Nations data, drone strikes alone have killed over 1,100 people so far this year.

The broader conflict has inflicted heavy human costs, with aid workers estimating that more than 200,000 people have died since the fighting began. Additionally, millions have been displaced, contributing to what aid agencies describe as the largest displacement and hunger crises globally.

Sudan’s multiple fronts of combat have complicated diplomatic efforts to broker a ceasefire or peace agreement. The region of Kordofan remains strategically important, serving as a link between army-held central Sudan and the RSF’s stronghold in Darfur, where the paramilitary group expanded its influence last year. Amid this ongoing turmoil, civilian populations continue to bear the brunt of the violence and instability.