The United Nations on Tuesday, 21 October 2026, issued a sweeping condemnation of relentless drone strikes targeting civilians and critical infrastructure across Sudan, warning that the attacks are inflicting a 'devastating toll' on communities already battered by more than three years of civil war. The statement came as fresh strikes were reported in multiple states, including a deadly hit on a market that killed dozens.

Key Incidents Across Sudan

UN Secretary-General spokesman Stephane Dujarric specifically condemned the 'reported killing of dozens of civilians in a drone strike on a market in the locality of Al Dibab, West Kordofan State, on Sunday.' In Khartoum, three children aged between two and six and their father were reportedly killed on Monday when a drone struck a residential area. In South Darfur state, a drone strike reportedly hit a residential house in the state capital Nyala on the same day, causing civilian casualties and damaging surrounding homes.

Strikes Cross Into Abyei Border Region

The violence has reportedly spilled beyond Sudan's borders. Dujarric confirmed that the UN also condemns a series of drone strikes across the southern border into the Abyei region between Sudan and South Sudan, killing at least 28 civilians at Amiet Market and Todach on Monday, with many more reportedly injured and unaccounted for. On Tuesday, drones reportedly damaged the main power station in the town of Tendalti in White Nile state, compounding the humanitarian crisis.

What the UN Said

'This attack is part of a deeply concerning pattern. We remain alarmed by the relentless drone strikes across the country, as well as the damage they are causing to critical infrastructure. These attacks are taking a devastating toll on communities already struggling with the consequences of more than three years of conflict,' Dujarric said. He reiterated the UN's call for all parties to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure in accordance with international humanitarian law, adding: 'All parties must take constant care to spare civilians and civilian objects during military operations.'

Peace Talks Underway in Geneva

Amid the escalating violence, the UN Secretary-General's personal envoy Pekka Haavisto is in Geneva for the Sixth Consultative Meeting on Enhancing Coordination of Peace Initiatives and Efforts in Sudan. The forum aims to build a shared understanding of recent developments and advance efforts to end the civil war. Notably, neither the Sudanese government nor the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) — the two principal warring parties — are represented, as the platform was designed for mediators to coordinate among themselves rather than as a direct negotiation venue.

What Comes Next

The Geneva talks represent one of the few active diplomatic channels still functioning amid the conflict. However, the absence of the belligerents and the continued escalation of drone strikes raise serious doubts about their near-term impact. Humanitarian organisations have long flagged the near-collapse of civilian infrastructure in Sudan; the targeting of power stations and markets deepens that risk. The international community is watching whether the Geneva process can translate coordination among mediators into meaningful pressure on the parties to the conflict.