A drone attack blamed on the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) struck the town of Al-Dabba in northern Sudan, targeting a power station and the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Dongola, officials said Friday. The strike cut electricity to the town and left at least three people injured.
The attack came hours after Sudan’s army chief and head of the Sovereign Council Abdel Fattah al-Burhan reiterated his rejection of any ceasefire and vowed to continue fighting until the RSF surrenders.
In an Eid al-Fitr address on Thursday evening, al-Burhan said there would be “no truce” unless the RSF withdrew and regrouped under a comprehensive peace plan leading to a permanent settlement, with no armed actors remaining outside state control.
He added that Sudan’s leadership remained open to peace initiatives that meet security requirements and prevent a return to war.
Al-Burhan accused the RSF of committing war crimes, genocide and crimes against humanity, and said any future political process must dismantle the group’s role in Sudan.
He also pledged to “purge” the country of what he described as the “Dagalo militia,” referring to RSF leader Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, also known as Hemedti, and to rebuild state institutions while advancing civilian governance and peaceful transfer of power.
Al-Burhan last year proposed a UN-backed initiative requiring RSF forces to withdraw to agreed locations in Darfur before negotiations begin. The proposal ran parallel to a plan by the United States, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Egypt calling for a three-month humanitarian truce and a transition to a civilian-led government.
Shortly after his speech, RSF drones struck Al-Dabba, a strategic town in Northern State along the Nile. Local official Mohamed Saber, head of the area’s security committee, said the attack took place early Friday, the first day of Eid al-Fitr, and targeted civilian infrastructure, including the engineering faculty.
He said three people were wounded but did not disclose their condition, accusing the RSF of deliberately targeting civilian sites “to spread fear among unarmed residents.”
According to the official, Sudanese army air defenses intercepted some of the drones, and military and allied forces remain on alert to repel further attacks.
The RSF did not immediately comment on the strike. It has previously said its drones target military positions or civilian sites used by the army and its allies.
Friday’s attack was not the first on Al-Dabba. In October 2025, RSF drones struck the town, killing five people and injuring others.
Al-Dabba, home to tens of thousands, is a key commercial and agricultural hub linking northern, western and eastern Sudan.
