Sudan has accused neighbouring Ethiopia of being involved in a series of drone attacks targeting electricity infrastructure, fuel storage facilities and other civilian sites, raising concerns about a possible escalation of tensions between the two countries.
Sudanese officials made the allegations in Khartoum on October 28, 2026, claiming that technical flight records and satellite images linked drones used in the attacks to locations inside Ethiopian territory. The accusations have not been independently verified, and Ethiopia had not publicly responded to the claims at the time of reporting.
The allegations come as Sudan’s ongoing war continues to damage critical infrastructure, disrupt electricity supplies and threaten essential services for civilians already facing a severe humanitarian crisis.
Sudan Presents Evidence of Alleged Drone Launches
At a press conference in Khartoum, government and intelligence officials displayed what they described as flight-path data, satellite imagery and fragments recovered from intercepted drones.
According to the officials, the material indicated that some drones had taken off from within Ethiopia, including from the area of Bahir Dar Airport.
Sudan’s Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs, Muawiya Osman Khalid, called on the international community to take the allegations seriously. He accused Ethiopia and the United Arab Emirates of enabling attacks against Sudanese territory.
However, the claims remain allegations. The available information does not independently establish where the drones originated or whether either government was directly involved.
Drone Strikes Disrupt Electricity and Fuel Supplies
The latest accusations follow attacks on power stations and fuel infrastructure in several parts of Sudan.
On Tuesday, a drone strike disabled the Markhiyat power station northwest of Omdurman, disrupting electricity supplies across the wider Khartoum area. Sudanese officials described it as the seventh attack on the country’s power grid within a week.
Further strikes reported on Wednesday hit a power station and fuel storage facilities in El Manaqil, in Gezira State. Fuel storage sites and a pipeline connected to Bashayer Port in Red Sea State were also reportedly targeted.
The attacks caused a complete power blackout in El Manaqil and nearby areas, according to Sudanese authorities.
Repeated damage to electricity and fuel infrastructure threatens essential services, including water distribution, healthcare, communications and transport. Fuel shortages can also increase operating costs for businesses and make it harder for humanitarian organisations to deliver assistance.
Sudan Says Civilian Areas Have Also Been Hit
Sudan’s Undersecretary of the Ministry of Information, Graham Abdel Qader, said recent drone attacks had affected hospitals, mosques, residential neighbourhoods and energy installations across multiple states.
The areas he identified included White Nile, Gezira, Sennar, Red Sea, Blue Nile and Khartoum.
Abdel Qader warned that damage to public utilities could undermine agricultural production and complicate efforts by displaced residents to return to areas affected by the conflict.
Sudan’s authorities said they had so far exercised what they described as strategic patience in responding to the attacks. However, the allegations against Ethiopia and the UAE could add a new diplomatic dimension to a conflict already involving multiple armed actors and external interests.
Ethiopia and UAE Yet to Respond to the Allegations
The Ethiopian government and the United Arab Emirates had not immediately responded to requests for comment on the accusations, according to the report.
The allegations are particularly significant because any confirmed cross-border role in the drone campaign could heighten regional tensions and complicate diplomatic efforts to contain Sudan’s war.
Sudan has endured fighting between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces since April 2023. The conflict has caused mass displacement, widespread destruction and a deepening humanitarian emergency.
Drone warfare has become an increasingly important feature of the fighting, with attacks affecting not only military positions but also infrastructure and civilian areas.
Independent verification of the latest claims will be important in establishing the origin of the drones and determining whether external actors were involved. Until further evidence is available, the accusations against Ethiopia and the UAE should be treated as claims made by Sudanese officials rather than independently confirmed findings.
Regional Implications of the Growing Crisis
The reported attacks underline how the destruction of essential infrastructure can deepen Sudan’s humanitarian and economic problems. Power outages can interrupt hospital services, while damage to fuel facilities can restrict transport and raise the cost of moving food and other necessities.
For neighbouring countries, the accusations also create a risk of worsening diplomatic relations at a time when the conflict is already affecting regional security.
Sudan’s government is calling for international attention to the alleged cross-border dimension of the attacks. The next developments will depend partly on whether Ethiopia or the UAE responds formally and whether independent evidence emerges to support or challenge Khartoum’s claims.
For Sudanese civilians, the immediate concern remains the restoration of electricity, fuel supplies and other services needed for everyday life.
