RSF CLAIMS DOWNING OF SUDANESE MILITARY DRONE IN NYALA AFTER CIVILIAN BOMBARDMENT.
BY NJOKI KARANJA
Nyala, South Darfur – June 13, 2025.
The Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have announced that their air defense units successfully shot down a Bayraktar Akinci drone belonging to the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) over the city of Nyala, following what they described as indiscriminate aerial bombardments on residential neighborhoods that allegedly killed dozens of civilians.
In a strongly worded statement released Friday evening, the RSF condemned what they called a "flagrant violation of international and humanitarian law," accusing the SAF of deploying high-payload military drones to terrorize civilian populations. The Akinci drone, a Turkish-made unmanned combat aircraft known for its long range and destructive capacity, was reportedly brought down shortly after carrying out the attacks.
The RSF claimed the drone strike was part of a broader campaign by the SAF, which they allege is under the control of the Islamist movement, to exert military pressure through tactics that disproportionately harm civilians. The statement declared that the RSF air defense systems remain on high alert and have “consistently demonstrated exceptional effectiveness” in countering such aerial threats.
“The continued targeting of innocent civilians by the SAF will not go unpunished,” the RSF warned, vowing retaliatory strikes deep inside SAF military strongholds. “Our forces reserve the right to respond immediately and decisively at a time and place of our choosing.”
The incident marks a sharp escalation in the ongoing conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the RSF, who have been locked in a brutal power struggle since April 2023. While both sides have exchanged accusations of war crimes, Friday’s attack on Nyala could further deepen international concern over the mounting civilian toll in the Darfur region.
The RSF framed their actions as a defense of the Sudanese population, stating their commitment to “defeating terrorism, restoring peace, and rebuilding the Sudanese state on just and inclusive foundations.”
There has been no immediate response from the SAF regarding the drone downing or the reported civilian casualties in Nyala. Independent verification of the incident remains difficult due to the volatile security situation on the ground.
The international community has repeatedly called for a ceasefire and humanitarian access, but recent escalations indicate that Sudan’s civil conflict is far from abating, with civilians continuing to bear the brunt of the violence.
