The key facts

  • The Sudanese army reported a downed FH-95 drone south of Wad Banda on Monday evening
  • The operator of the aircraft and details of its mission were not disclosed
  • Fighting with the RSF continues in all three states of the Kordofan region

Army statement

The Sudanese army said on Monday that its air defenses shot down an unmanned aerial vehicle in West Kordofan state, where fighting continues with the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). In a brief statement, the military said it downed a 'hostile' drone south of the city of Wad Banda on Monday evening. The army did not disclose the operator of the aircraft or details of its mission. Anadolu reports this.

What is known about the drone and the conflict context

According to the outlet, the downed aircraft is a Chinese-made FH-95, designed for reconnaissance, surveillance and electronic warfare tasks; it can stay airborne for more than 12 hours. Fighting between the army and the RSF is ongoing in all three states of the Kordofan region — North, West and South. The conflict between the two sides has continued since April 2023 over disagreements about the integration of the paramilitary group into the armed forces. According to UN and international organizations' estimates, it has claimed the lives of tens of thousands of people, and about 13 million have been forced to leave their homes.