Thu Dec 18 16:14:13 UTC 2025: Summary:
Sudan’s ongoing conflict between the army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) escalated with a large-scale drone attack by the RSF on Thursday, December 18, 2025. The attacks targeted civilian infrastructure, including the Al-Muqrin power station in Atbara, leading to widespread power outages across several states. The strikes resulted in casualties, including rescue workers, and further exacerbated the humanitarian crisis in Sudan. Efforts to resolve the conflict are ongoing, with international involvement anticipated.
News Article:
RSF Drone Attacks Cripple Sudanese Power Grid, Sparking Outrage
Port Sudan – A large-scale drone attack launched by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on Thursday, December 18, 2025, has plunged several Sudanese states into darkness and claimed the lives of at least three people, including rescue workers. The strikes, which targeted a critical power station in Atbara, represent a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict between the RSF and the Sudanese army.
According to military sources, approximately 35 drones were deployed, targeting civilian infrastructure in cities like Atbara, Al-Damer, and Berber. The Al-Muqrin power station, a key hub for distributing electricity generated by the Merowe Dam, sustained significant damage, leading to widespread power outages affecting regions along the Nile and the Red Sea, including Port Sudan, the interim seat of the government.
“We’ve been without power since 2:00 am,” lamented Abdel Rahim al-Amin, an official in Port Sudan. The national electricity company confirmed the outages, attributing them to the RSF’s drone attacks.
Tragically, the strikes resulted in fatalities. An official at the power plant reported that a second strike targeted rescue workers responding to the initial attack, killing two and injuring another. Emergency Lawyers, an NGO documenting the conflict’s atrocities, also reported airstrikes hitting civilian homes in Atbara, resulting in further casualties.
The RSF has yet to comment on the incident.
The already dire humanitarian situation in Sudan continues to worsen. The UN reports that over 1,000 civilians were killed in attacks on the Zamzam displacement camp in April.
Amid the escalating violence, diplomatic efforts to resolve the conflict are underway. General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, Sudan’s army chief, is expected to discuss potential solutions in Cairo. Hopes for a breakthrough were rekindled last month when US President Donald Trump expressed willingness to mediate, following urgings from Prince Mohammed.
The international community is urged to address the crisis, which the UN has labeled the world’s worst humanitarian crisis.
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