RSF drone strike damages key power infrastructure in Sudan’s Meroe

KHARTOUM – A major power station in Meroe, located in Sudan’s Northern State, sustained severe damage following a drone strike on Tuesday, the country’s electricity coordination council confirmed.

The council attributed the attack to the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), stating it was the second such incident in less than three days.

In an official statement, the council reported that while no casualties were recorded, the strike directly hit transformers supplying power to the Northern State and damaged several reactors.

This resulted in a complete power outage in the region and further delayed repair work on equipment previously affected by earlier attacks.

“The resulting fire from the strike extended beyond the initial impact area, damaging the main transmission line feeding the capital Khartoum,” the council said. Consequently, a widespread blackout has affected Khartoum, the River Nile State, and the Red Sea State.

The statement emphasized that civil defense teams were working intensively to contain the fire, while technical assessment teams were evaluating the extent of the damage to determine the necessary repair measures.

The electricity coordination council cautioned against the dissemination of unverified information regarding the country’s power sector, urging media outlets and citizens to rely solely on official statements issued by the council.

The latest strike underscores an escalating pattern of drone warfare targeting Sudan’s critical infrastructure amidst the ongoing conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the RSF.

Over the past several months, repeated attacks on power facilities have caused extensive damage and contributed to prolonged electricity outages across multiple states.

The disruption of electrical services has significantly impacted daily life in Sudan, with power cuts lasting for days. These outages coincide with soaring temperatures, placing additional strain on households and essential services.

The council also accused the RSF of deliberately targeting power stations in various regions, asserting that these actions constitute an attack on civilian infrastructure and threaten the well-being of millions of Sudanese.

The situation has heightened concerns about the resilience of Sudan’s energy sector, which has been weakened by years of underinvestment and now faces increasing challenges due to the conflict.

Humanitarian agencies have warned that continued attacks on infrastructure could exacerbate the country’s already dire humanitarian crisis, with hospitals, water supply systems, and relief operations all dependent on a stable electricity supply.

As Sudan enters another summer with the ongoing conflict, authorities and engineers face mounting pressure to protect remaining infrastructure and restore stability to the power grid—a task made increasingly difficult by the frequency and precision of recent drone strikes.

The council concluded its statement by reaffirming its commitment to transparency and appealed to citizens to remain patient as recovery efforts continue under exceptionally challenging circumstances.