February 21
3 AID WORKERS KILLED AND 4 WOUNDED AFTER DRONE STRIKE BY
RSFHIT HUMANITARIAN CONVOY in S Kordofan, #Sudan Doctors Network says.
The assault comes amid rising drone attacks and a UN report on RSF atrocities.
FEDERATION OF INDUSTRIAL CHAMBERS REVEALED WIDESPREAD LOOT
OF FACTORIES….in southern Khartoum industrial zone are still subjected to armed
robbery in broad daylight….perpetrators hold military ranks and are seen loading looted
goods. Originally planned as a hub for heavy industry, the zone houses iron smelting,
electronics, assembly plants built to modern standards over the last 15 years. The 450
factories have been 100% looted…raw materials, finished products, furniture, furnace
fuel, vehicles, cash from safes, heavy machinery. The destruction has extended to the
factory structures themselves, turning factories into empty plots of land. The assault on
the industrial sector has directly hindered the return of economic activity in Khartoum,
Khartoum N/Bahri and parts of Omdurman. He emphasized that return of residents to
their neighbourhoods is contingent on restoration of basic services, primarily
electricity. …agricultural and industrial production is the natural entry point for
stimulating consumption and creating jobs….
February 20
AL-BURHAN SAID NO CEASEFIRE UNLESS RSF WITHDREW FROM AREAS
THEY OCCUPY…. Al-Burhan said the youth who led the Dec 2019 uprising that
toppled al-Bashir were “capable of uprooting the militias” to restore security and
stability to the country. Al-Burhan reiterated that Sudan would not accept any mediation
role for UAE, accusing it of supporting the rebellion.
February 19
UN INDEPENDENT FACT-FINDING MISSION SAID SIEGE…OF EL-FASHER
BORE HALLMARKS OF GENOCIDE. Its investigation concluded RSF seizure of
Darfur inflicted “3 days of absolute horror”, and called for those responsible to be
brought to justice. The mission warned “urgent protection of civilians is needed, now
more than ever” in Kordovan. “The scale, coordination, and public endorsement of the
operation by senior RSF leadership demonstrate that crimes committed…were not
random excesses of war. They formed part of a planned organised operation that bears
the defining characteristics of genocide.” UN Human Rights Council established the
Independent Intl Fact-Finding Mission for Sudan Oct 2023. Its investigation…concluded
thousands of people, particularly from the Zaghawa ethnic group, “were killed, raped or
disappeared”. Zaghawa is one of the area’s largest non-Arab ethnic groups. The mission
interviewed 320 witnesses and victims….It authenticated, verified and corroborated 25
videos. Survivors spoke of widespread killings, indiscriminate shootings, and mass
executions at exit points….roads filled with bodies of men, women and children. The
report detailed detention, torture, humiliation, extortion, ransom and disappearances.
Widespread sexual violence targeted women and girls from non-Arab communities,
particularly Zaghawa. “Women and girls from 7 to 70 years old, including pregnant
women, were subjected to rape.” Many survivors reported being raped in front of
relatives, with sexual violence frequently accompanied by extreme physical brutality.
“…a 12-year-old girl was raped by 3 RSF fighters in front of her mother shortly after her
father had been killed trying to protect her. The girl later died from her injuries,” Rape
was often committed in locations where mass killings had taken place, including at El-
Saudi Hospital and at El-Fasher Univ. “Witnesses recounted RSF violently and publicly
gang-raping 19 women in rooms filled with corpses, including the remains of their own
husbands. The New Arab
February 18
DISEASE OUTBREAKS IN CAPITAL AS WAR RUINS HEALTH SYSTEM.
Epidemics and childhood diseases are surging across Khartoum State,…as 3 years of
conflict devastated the nation’s healthcare system. The war…has caused acute shortages
of medicines, destroyed medical infrastructure and suspended basic services across
many states…A recent epidemiological report recorded 10,361 malaria cases and 467
cases of dengue fever in the 6th week of 2026. Authorities reported a rise in childhood
diseases, including measles. Immunization Admin said systemic militia looting and
vandalism of health centres damaged vaccine cold chains, causing critical shortages.
Khartoum’s dir of emergencies said the min would increase rapid response efforts during
the upcoming Muslim holy month of Ramadan, including training staff to detect
meningitis. The min called for intl support to secure supplies, particularly malaria
medicine. It also urged residents to help break mosquito breeding cycles by draining
stagnant water weekly. Sudan Tribune
February 17
SUDANESE WOMEN AND CHILDREN HELD AFTER CAIRO ARRESTS. Egyptian
authorities detained more than 7 Sudanese women working in traditional beauty services
in El Hussein district of Cairo and held nearly 2 weeks without their families able to
contact them or confirm their exact place of detention….Sources reported severe
overcrowding, with 70 detainees kept inside a single cell. Amnesty Intl warns of “a
widening crackdown on refugees including arbitrary arrests and unlawful deportations”.
…2 children aged 8 and 10 were detained during security campaigns, with no clear
information available. An activist in Cairo told Radio Dabanga the women were arrested
from their workplaces…and relatives were unable to follow them….Such procedures
prevent families from appointing lawyers or tracking the legal process, raising fears of
enforced disappearance. The activist added holding detainees more than 3 days without
access to a lawyer or family members, without presenting a legal arrest warrant, meets
the definition of enforced disappearance. Most of the women are primary breadwinners
supporting children and extended families inside and outside Sudan, and some have no
relatives in Egypt….The activist voiced growing concern about children whose mothers
remain detained, amid uncertainty over who is caring for them. Many mothers…rely
solely on themselves to care for their children, leaving minors especially vulnerable.
Previous arrest cases were typically referred to prosecutors the day after detention, with
some detainees ordered released but kept in custody for days or weeks. She described
difficult humanitarian conditions inside detention facilities, including overcrowded cells
and detainees suffering chronic illnesses…without adequate medical care. Minors were
being detained or summoned pending arrival of relatives,…the arrest campaigns may be
expanding to younger age groups. She criticised…shrinking avenues of support for
Sudanese refugees, saying communication with intl organisations including the UN
refugee agency often resulted in automated email replies without direct follow-up in
urgent cases. …the detained women were working in harsh living conditions to support
their families and had not posed a public order problem but were simply trying to earn a
living with dignity. Dabanga
ANNUAL INFLATION RATE FELL TO 60.26%, CONTINUING A DOWNWARD
TREND FROM RECORD HIGHS. Despite the statistical improvement, citizens still
face severe economic hardship, high costs for basic goods, and depreciating currency.…
as the country sees sustained decline from the record price increases in recent years. The
inflation rate has been on a downward trajectory since peaking in 2021 at the highest
level in the nation’s history. While the rate stood at 74.02% in Nov 2025, the cooling of
price growth comes despite the continued depreciation of the Sudanese pound against
foreign currencies and high cost of basic commodities. …the humanitarian situation
remains precarious. Sudanese households continue to face severe economic hardship and
decline in purchasing power due to the ongoing conflict, which eroded income sources
and disrupted internal trade routes. However, a relative improvement in security in
Khartoum…triggered a shift in population movement. For the first time in nearly 3 years,
a significant number of citizens are expected to spend the holy month of Ramadan in the
capital. Sudan Tribune
February 16
DRONE ATTACK ON BUSY MARKET KILLS AT LEAST 28. Drone-fired missiles
have hit a market in N Kordovan….Emergency Lawyers, tracking violence against
civilians, said drones bombed al-Safiya market in Sodari N Kordovan State. The
bombing on Sunday occurred when the market was packed with people, “exacerbating
the humanitarian tragedy” adding that the number of casualties is likely to rise. “The
attack occurred when the market was bustling with civilians, including women, children
and the elderly. The repeated use of drones to target populated areas shows a grave
disregard for civilian lives and signals an escalation that threatens what remains of daily
life in the province. Therefore, we demand an immediate halt to drone attacks by both
sides of the conflict,” Sodari, a remote town where desert trade routes cross, is 132 mi
northwest of el-Obeid, capital of N Kordofan, which RSF has been trying to encircle for
months. Cordovan has seen a surge in deadly drone attacks as both sides fight over the
country’s vital east-west axis, which links western RSF-held Darfur to army-controlled
Khartoum and the rest of Sudan. Emergency Lawyers said the drones…belonged to the
army. Al Jazeera
February 17
WITH RAMADAN HOURS AWAY, SHOPPERS FLOOD MARKETS OF
OMDURMAN, clutching bags of essentials as they prepare for the Muslim holy month
But beneath the surface of commercial activity, the spirit of the season is overshadowed
by brutal realities of a war that has torn the nation apart. For many, the joy of the month
is tempered by economic strain. “Prices are too high during peak seasons,” Saleh
Mubarak, displaced from Khartoum. “It is crowded here, and traders take advantage of
special occasions to raise prices.” His words reflect the frustration of consumers facing
record highs for basic commodities, leaving many unable to afford the communal iftar
tables that define Ramadan. Yet, for some traders, the scene represents a fragile return to
normalcy. “I came to the market and opened my shop 3-4 months after the end of the
war,” Othman Youssef, merchant from Khartoum. “There is high demand from
customers and prices are reasonable, neither high nor low, rather moderate.” Another
trader, Abd El Hameed Abd El Rahman, shared cautious optimism: “We came back
about a month and a half ago. Things aren’t as bad as they were before. The situation has
improved; people are working again, the market is recovering, and we feel safe. But
some traders lost their goods, and I am one of them.” UN figures show 14 million
Sudanese displaced inside and outside the country. Tens of thousands have been killed,
and half the population— 21 million people—are facing acute hunger. As families
gather to break their fast, millions more will spend the holy month in tents, struggling to
find their next meal.
February 13
UN ACCUSED PARAMILITARIES OF WAR CRIMES…DURING CAPTURE OF EL
FASHER…6,000 WERE KILLED IN 3 DAYS. During its final offensive in Oct, RSF
unleashed “a wave of intense violence…shocking in scale and brutality” amounting to
war crimes and possible crimes against humanity, report from UN Human Rights Office.
RSF and allied Arab militia carried out widespread attacks, including mass killings and
summary executions, sexual violence, abductions for ransom, torture and ill-treatment,
detention, disappearances, pillage and the use of children in hostilities. In many cases,
these were directed against civilians and people outside of combat based on ethnicity or
perceived affiliation. Based on interviews with 140 victims and witnesses…the Human
Rights Office documented 6,000 killings in the first 3 days. “The actual scale of the
death toll during the week-long offensive is undoubtedly significantly higher. The
unprecedented scale and brutality meted out during the offensive deeply compounded
the horrific violations residents of El-Fasher had already been subjected to during the
long months of siege, constant hostilities and bombardment,” Volker Turk. He said
persistent impunity was fuelling the violence. “There must be credible and impartial
investigations to establish criminal responsibility, including of commanders and
superiors. These must lead to meaningful accountability for perpetrators of exceptionally
serious crimes, through all available means.” The New Arab
FOREIGN MIN SAID GOVT IS PROTECTING AFRICA…BY CONFRONTING
FOREIGN INTERFERENCE….as he called on AU for support: “This…is a war against
foreign interference. It involves a large number of mercenaries and significant external
intervention through funding and advanced weaponry….we are protecting Africa’s back
by confronting this conspiracy. What is happening in Sudan is not only targeting our
country, but the entire continent.” Ending the suspension of Sudan’s membership in the
AU for more than 4 years, would benefit Africa. AU suspended membership in 2021
after the military-led Transitional Sovereignty Council sacked the government of PM
Hamdok. Sudan repeatedly accused UAE of arming and funding the RSF. Last year, it
filed a case against the UAE at ICJ, accusing it of “complicity in genocide”
committed…against the Masalit community in W Darfur. Al Jazeera
February 12
SUDAN WAR RECOUNTED BY WOMEN OF KHARTOUM NEIGHBOURHOOD
….citizens trapped in conflict zones have not only been besieged by direct war violence,
but also by social and economic complexities and harmful habits that civil institutions,
organizations and community initiatives have been fighting for years, especially…
gender-based violence. In community sessions organized by Al-Alaq Centre in
Khartoum, images of suffering women who tried hard to fight harmful phenomena such
as child marriage and female genital mutilation.It has not been easy for women in the
absence of legal oversight and community awareness. Women recount what happened to
them and what they saw during 2 years when Khartoum was an active military
operations area….women beaten and threatened by RSF, lost husbands to the war, faced
the most severe psychological punishment, lived difficult moments without assistance.
There are many tears, a sense of oppression and loneliness. Women in Kirkuk in E Nile
expressed…psychological comfort after lifting a 2-year siege, and they needed
psychological support sessions and venting what happened to them. A mother stuck in
the neighborhood said a member of RSF came to the house and asked for her 14-year-old
daughter to be handed over: “I stood up to him, and I begged him to leave her. After
we reached the stage of collapse, he left. I breathed a sigh of relief, but we remained in
a state of terror and fear until today.” A woman who spoke about some families forcing
girls of marriageable age to undergo circumcision, says women faced a resurgence of
these phenomena during the siege of Khartoum by RSF as some families reverted to the
practice in the absence of law. A worker at a girls’ school for 30 years spoke about the
lack of social counseling for teenage girls, which made them vulnerable to harassment,
rape or lure and some mothers find it embarrassing to guide their children, especially
teenage girls, and called for introduction of an educational approach to protect girls.
Asia Adam, activist in social welfare, revealed that children of Riyadh have been
subjected to harassment and domestic violence, and called for increasing psychological
support for children, especially those subjected to psychological trauma, as well as
children stuck in areas of clashes, in addition to community awareness for mothers, and
fighting harmful habits, such as child marriage, amputation and genital mutilation, and
pointed to an increase in rape and harassment…. A midwife stresses the legal article on
non-tolerance of female genital mutilation, trials of mothers and midwives who
performed circumcision: “There is a cover-up from society against such
practices.” …there were a number of widowed women due to the war, and most
husbands who died were killed inside their homes by RSF, and great psychological
damage due to the loss of a breadwinner and providing care and economic support.
More than one woman who was beaten told about the need to provide psychological
support due to their inability to overcome the trauma. The effects are visible in their
daily lives, and they are unable to care for their children due to severe psychological
damage. Shireen Rahmatullah, employee in E Nile, practices circumcision secretly,…
there is secrecy by families about circumcision, which threatens to increase without
revealing the perpetrators, the first of whom is the midwife…under the cover of the
community. Regarding violence inside schools, there are incidents that require attention
from school administration and parents: “We caught students carrying narcotic pills, we
conducted investigations to find their source, for treatment until the stage of recovery
from addiction.” Afaf, an employee, attributed the return of circumcision to society’s
adherence to old customs and refusal to abandon them, inherited despite fighting:
“Community awareness plays an important role in fighting harmful customs and
violence against women.” Intisar Abdel Salam spoke about the impact of the war on
families, especially after displacement and mixing with families in other areas,
protecting children from violence has become a haunting concern. The mother of a girl
says societal pressures and fear led her to accept her daughter’s marriage when she is 16
and studying in secondary school, her daughter gave birth to a child. Another mother
tells of her 16-year-old daughter who asked for a divorce on the first night of marriage
and threatened to commit suicide, saying her daughter’s husband is 20 years older.
Doria Noureen, member of association for the fight against harmful habits, called for
implementation of awareness sessions on sexual violence in schools, and revealed cases
of harassment, pointing out that these phenomena are prevalent in the absence of
supervision in schools, that families need awareness to help children correct behavior
and not be vulnerable to violations. Hana Mustafa believes school alone does not play
the educational role, but starts from home for integration of roles between school and
home: “Monitoring children is important, and awareness…to the sources of danger,
mothers should not leave children alone for long periods so they are not easily
exploited.” Another participant believes…It is necessary to get rid of harmful customs to
maintain the safety of girls: There are those who practice…circumcision secretly, and
many families, after the migration trip to the states, practiced circumcision on girls as
young as 13, one of the harms of the war that contributed to doubling of violence against
women. Dabanga/Sudan Media Forum
February 11
DRONE STRIKE BLAMED ON RSF KILLED 2 CHILDREN IN S KORDOFAN
CITY EL-RAHAD. The Kordofan region is the fiercest battlefield….”I saw a dozen
students injured,” Ahmed Moussa, adding the drone struck a traditional Koranic school.
El-Rahad lies on a key axis linking El-Obeid, N Kordofan capital, to the White Nile R,
the army’s main line to Khartoum. RSF has been trying to re-encircle El-Obeid
including launching successive drone strikes on the eastern highway, which connects the
vast western region of Darfur with the rest of the country. It effectively split the country
in two, the army holding north, centre and east while the RSF and allies control the west
and parts of the south. The army…appeared to tilt the balance breaking 2 sieges on
Dilling and Kadugli. The cities exemplify the violence in Kordofan, where hundreds of
thousands face starvation under daily drone strikes. From end of Oct-Feb, 115,000
people have been forced from their homes….Battling for control of oil and gold-rich
region, RSF and the army traded drone strikes across vast areas, killing dozens at a time.
In just over 2 weeks 90 civilians were killed in drone strikes…by both warring parties
including a WFP convoy, markets, health facilities and residential areas across N and S
Kordofan. In the first week of Feb, 3 health facilities were attacked in S Kordofan,
killing 30, according to WHO. AfricaNews
February 9
SUDAN RETURNING TO E AFRICAN BLOC IGAD, 2 years after freezing its
membership over a decision to invite rival paramilitary chief Daglo to a summit. The
foreign min cited a statement by IGAD which reaffirmed “its full recognition of Sudan’s
sovereignty and the unity of its lands and people” and pledged “non-interference in
member states’ internal affairs”. The New Arab
February 8
RIYADH CONDEMNS RSF ATTACKS IN KORDOFAN, BLAMES FOREIGN
FIGHTERS AND WEAPONS FUELLING 3 YEAR CONFLICT. Saudi Arabia
reaffirmed support for Sudan’s territorial unity and integrity, denouncing “criminal
attacks” by RSF that killed dozens of people….Saudi Min of Foreign Affairs condemned
“foreign interference” by “some parties” in Sudan, “continued influx of illegal weapons,
mercenaries and foreign fighters”….Sudan Doctors Network said a drone attack by RSF
on a vehicle transporting displaced families in killed 24 people, including 8 children.
The attack followed drone raids on humanitarian aid convoys and fuel trucks across N
Kordovan including an assault on a World Food Programme convoy…. Sudan’s Foreign
Min: “targeting relief convoys and humanitarian assets constitutes a grave violation…of
intl humanitarian law…undermining efforts to deliver humanitarian assistance to those in
need. This attack does not represent an isolated incident, but a continuation of a pattern
adopted by the militia to obstruct humanitarian work and use deprivation of food as a
means of pressure against civilians”….Saudi Min said deadly RSF attacks “are
completely unjustifiable and constitute flagrant violations of all humanitarian norms and
relevant international agreements”….demanded “RSF immediately cease these
violations and adhere to its moral and humanitarian obligation to ensure delivery of
relief aid to those in need” and a ceasefire deal agreed by the warring parties in Jeddah
in 2023. …“some parties” were fuelling the conflict by sending in weapons and fighters,
despite “these parties’ claim of supporting a political solution” in Sudan. Al Jazeera
February 6
EU, UK SANCTIONS COMMANDERS AND WAR FINANCIERS. Western nations
ramped up punitive measures against warring parties, with UK and EU issuing
consecutive rounds of sanctions targeting field commanders, financiers and mercenary
brokers…fueling the conflict. The coordinated designations aim to dismantle logistical
and financial networks sustaining SAF and RSF….Britain’s Foreign Office announced
blacklisting 6 individuals, coinciding with Foreign Secy’s visit to Chad-Sudan border
where she witnessed humanitarian fallout of the violence first-hand. Among…targets are
3 Colombian nationals…accused of recruitment of S American military veterans to fight
for RSF. UK list extends…to financial enablers, designating Nabi, al-Khaleej Bank, for
facilitating RSF’s war chest through illicit funding channels. London stated these
measures are designed to disrupt the “war machine” by targeting supply chains of
money and manpower that allow both sides to continue operations…. UK sanctioned
RSF commander Barsham for mass atrocities in Darfur, Keikal, military commander
leading SAF-allied Sudan Shield Forces. Barsham is an ethnic Misseriya Arab
previously sanctioned by EU….responsible for promoting serious violations of
international humanitarian law and engaging in grave breaches such as targeted
executions. Keikal, an ethnic Arab from Butana Al-Jazirah, is a pro-SAF militia
commander previously allied with RSF….accused of directing abuses during a SAF
advance in central Sudan late 2024 and early 2025, a period in which documented
violence against civilians in agricultural farmlands Kanabi in lead up to SAF capture of
Al Jazirah.
British designations follow a similar move by EU, which sanctioned 7 linked to warring
factions, including younger brother of RSF leader Dagalo. EU listed al-Misbah,
commander of Al-Baraa bin Malik Corps fighting alongside the army. …a hardline
Islamist paramilitary integrated into SAF operations, …a key auxiliary force in high-
intensity fronts. EU specifically accused al-Misbah of carrying out summary executions
of civilians during operations in Khartoum N Sept 2024 and Gezira Jan 2025, atrocities
committed with impunity as the brigade operated outside formal military chain of
command. The diplomatic escalation comes as UK assumes presidency of UN Sec
Council, seeking to leverage sanctions…for ceasefire. Cooper described “unimaginable
violence” from refugees in Adre, emphasizing that while aid is crucial, there must be
accountability for the rape, killing and starvation used as weapons of war: “At the
Sudan-Chad border, I met women and children who suffered unimaginable violence, and
barely escaped with their lives. For their sake, and millions of civilians caught in the
middle of this conflict, we urgently need a ceasefire and safe access for humanitarian
relief agencies to reach all those in need. But we also need to ensure there is a price to
pay for military commanders who allowed these atrocities to take place, and callous
profiteers who fuelled this conflict with the supply of mercenaries and weaponry. …we
will seek to dismantle the war machine of those who perpetrate or profit from the brutal
violence in Sudan, and send a message to every individual responsible for commanding
these armies and committing these atrocities that they will one day be held to account.”
Western designations are moving from top-level political figures to mid-ranking
operational commanders and external facilitators essential to the daily grind of the war.
However, with many targets operating outside Western banking systems, the immediate
impact on the ground remains uncertain as fighting continues to devastate large parts of
Sudan. Sudan War Monitor
DEADLY ATTACKS IN N…W KORDOFAN, ABYEI, N DARFUR. SAF has begun
employing a new…attack drone in Kordofan, targeting fuel depots, markets and convoys
in rear areas controlled by RSF. The strategy aims to deprive RSF of fuel supplies and
make it more difficult to rotate frontline units and rush reinforcements to vulnerable
areas. SAF seeks to shut down commercial activity, weakening RSF and encouraging
mass displacement from RSF-held areas. SAF has been attacking markets since the
beginning of the war, but its method changed. After losing most of its manned warplanes
the Air Force acquired… guided-missile drones from Turkey, but lost many to anti-
aircraft fire. NYT revealed SAF operates long-range drones from a desert airbase in
Egypt: “Turkish drones are hidden in Egypt. It is unclear if Egyptian or Sudanese forces
operate the drones.” Several attacks throughout N and W Darfur are likely…carried out
by drones operating from this Egyptian airbase. RSF acquired Chinese drone-jamming
and surface-to-air missile systems, likely provided by UAE according to Wim
Zwijnenburg, PAX. RSF carried out drone attacks of its own, hitting civilian and
military targets….it has long-range drones, used against electrical infrastructure, airports
and leadership targets….mostly focused on N and S Kordofan. The first 2 years
witnessed heavy fighting in Khartoum and cities of the Nile Valley, now quiet, albeit
scarred by the conflict and heavily militarized. 3 million Sudanese returned to their
homes since fighting ended in central Sudan, but millions remain abroad or in IDP
camps. Sudan War Monitor