ABADI NORELDIN
THE government of Sudan has raised alarm and strongly denounced a growing campaign of aggression by external forces, involving direct military attacks on Sudanese territory through the use of strategic drones, armed proxies, and cross-border operations.
These developments represent not only a direct assault on Sudan’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and national security, but also a coordinated external offensive that threatens to destabilise the entire Horn of Africa and the wider East African region.
The current wave of aggression reportedly began in October 2025 with the establishment of a large military training facility near Sudan’s eastern border. The camp, located approximately 30 kilometres from Sudanese territory, was designed to accommodate nearly 10,000 fighters and later became a convergence point for thousands of mercenaries of different nationalities between November and December 2025. A nearby drone launching site was also established in close proximity to the border.
The first major aerial strikes occurred on March 1, 2026, when three advanced drones entered Sudanese airspace and targeted several states, including White Nile, Blue Nile, North Kordofan and
South Kordofan. Sudanese authorities reported that one drone was intercepted and destroyed while two retreated across the border.
A second drone attack followed on March 17, 2026, targeting Sudanese Armed Forces’ positions and areas near Al-Kurmuk. Another drone was shot down north of El-Obeid in North Kordofan. According to Sudanese military officials, technical analysis of the wreckage identified a drone originally manufactured for a foreign military before being transferred for operational use by allied external forces.
Subsequent attacks between late March and early May 2026 saw Rapid Support Forces (RSF) elements and mercenaries – reportedly backed by foreign actors – launch assaults on border towns, including Al-Kurmuk and Al-Kailik. Additional drone strikes targeted South Omdurman, Khartoum, Al-Jazira State and Khartoum International Airport, resulting in civilian casualties and damage to critical infrastructure.
The region at stake: Political implications
These coordinated hostile actions come at a time of deep fragmentation across the Horn of Africa, where multiple internal conflicts, fragile political transitions, and geopolitical rivalries increasingly intersect. The crisis represents one of the most concerning examples of cross-border militarisation in recent years.
The situation can no longer be framed solely as an internal conflict involving the RSF. Instead, it reflects a broader regional confrontation, with external sponsorship, logistical backing and advanced military technology increasingly shaping the battlefield. The use of drone warfare, in particular, has transformed the nature of the conflict by enabling foreign actors to strike deep inside Sudanese territory while avoiding direct conventional engagement.
Politically, Sudan is pursuing two parallel objectives. First, it seeks to reposition the conflict on the international stage as foreign aggression against a sovereign state rather than a domestic civil war. Second, it aims to mobilise support from African and Arab regional institutions by presenting the crisis as a wider threat to regional stability. Continued external involvement risks turning the Horn of Africa into a prolonged theatre of proxy warfare.
Through the lens of international lawFrom a legal standpoint, these developments raise serious concerns under the United Nations Charter and customary international law. Article 2(4) of the UN Charter prohibits the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state. If external parties are proven to have launched or supported drone attacks against Sudan, such actions could constitute an unlawful use of force.
The use of armed proxies and mercenaries further complicates the legal landscape. International law increasingly recognises that states may bear responsibility not only for direct military action but also for support extended to non-state armed groups engaged in hostile operations.
Moreover, the targeting of civilian infrastructure – including Khartoum International Airport and residential areas – raises serious concerns under international humanitarian law. Civilian objects are protected unless used for military purposes, and attacks causing disproportionate civilian harm require international scrutiny and accountability.
Stability in peril: Risks for the Horn of Africa
The implications of this crisis extend far beyond Sudan’s borders. The Horn of Africa is already grappling with overlapping instability stretching from Sudan and South Sudan to Somalia, Eritrea and the Red Sea corridor.
Sustained aggression risks disrupting trade routes, triggering increased refugee flows, and further weakening already fragile regional institutions.
In addition, the growing normalisation and accessibility of advanced drone technology is enabling cross-border projection of force with limited accountability, thereby increasing the risk of escalation and prolonged conflict.
Charting the path forward
Sudan is calling for a coordinated regional and international response to contain the emerging security crisis and prevent further escalation. Key measures being sought include:
• Condemnation of violations by regional and international actors against Sudan’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
• Diplomatic pressure on external parties to halt military, logistical or financial support to armed groups operating within Sudan.
• Support for peace initiatives and political dialogue anchored in the Jeddah Declaration, aimed at de-escalating tensions and preventing further regional destabilisation.
As tensions rise, the unfolding crisis represents a critical test for African diplomacy and international conflict management mechanisms. Sudan, while affirming its commitment to regional peace efforts and political engagement under the Jeddah framework, maintains a firm position against any external interference that threatens its sovereignty, territorial integrity and national security.
The author is Sudanese Ambassador to Zambia.
