Sudan’s paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have launched a second drone strike in as many days on Port Sudan, escalating a war that has devastated the country for over two years.
According to Reuters, the early Monday attack targeted fuel depots in the strategic eastern city, marking a significant escalation in the RSF’s tactics.
Military sources confirmed that a drone was deployed at dawn to strike fuel storage facilities, described as civilian infrastructure. The attack has raised alarm over the militia’s growing reach and its implications for Sudan’s energy security.
“This attack reflects a deliberate attempt by these militias to paralyze life and target citizens’ basic needs,” said Sudan’s Minister of Energy and Petroleum, Mohiedienn Naiem Mohamed Saied. Calling the strike part of a broader “criminal campaign,” government officials condemned what they see as a coordinated effort to destabilize the country’s vital resources.
Speaking from the scene, Minister Saied described the operation as a “terrorist act” aimed at crippling essential services. He reported that a diesel depot was hit, igniting a blaze that rapidly spread to nearby fuel tanks. A statement from the ministry warned of the potential for a larger disaster, especially given the densely populated surroundings.
The RSF has not officially claimed responsibility for the strike.
Monday’s attack comes just a day after an earlier RSF drone strike targeted a military base and other locations near Port Sudan Airport. That assault marked the first time the militia had reached Port Sudan—a government stronghold and key humanitarian hub on the Red Sea. No casualties were reported in Sunday’s attack.
The eastern expansion of the conflict now threatens to destabilize Port Sudan further. The city is home to Sudan’s main seaport, airport, and the army’s central command.
Since April 2023, Sudan has been gripped by a brutal conflict between the RSF and the army, rooted in disputes over the country’s stalled transition to civilian rule. According to the United Nations, the war has displaced more than 12 million people and pushed half of the population into acute hunger, worsening an already catastrophic humanitarian crisis.
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