The Sudanese army reported on Thursday that it successfully intercepted and downed an “enemy strategic drone” that had crossed into the country from the direction of Ethiopia. In an official statement, the army’s General Command specified that the unmanned aerial vehicle was neutralized during the morning hours, north of Sarkam in Sudan’s Blue Nile state, after it had breached the national border.
While the military characterized the downed craft as a “strategic” unmanned aircraft, officials did not release additional technical details regarding the drone. The Blue Nile region, which shares a border with Ethiopia, remains a site of significant strategic importance as the ongoing conflict between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) continues to unfold.
This incident follows a similar report earlier this month, when the Sudanese military stated it had shot down three FH-95 drones in North Kordofan state, located in the southern part of the country. The broader conflict between the army and the RSF has been ongoing since April 2023. According to United Nations and international estimates, the war has resulted in the deaths of tens of thousands of people and the displacement of approximately 13 million individuals. Furthermore, Sudanese authorities and various human rights organizations have repeatedly accused the Rapid Support Forces of deliberately targeting civilian infrastructure throughout the country.
