Drone attacks on critical power infrastructure in Sudan have caused widespread blackouts across army-controlled regions, deepening the humanitarian crisis in a country already battered by nearly two years of conflict between the military and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), local officials and residents reported on Saturday.
The outages began on Monday after strikes targeted the Merowe Dam, Sudan’s largest hydroelectric power station, cutting electricity to the northern state. Technical failures soon spread to the River Nile and Red Sea states. By Saturday, the blackouts had engulfed Gedaref, Kassala, and Sennar states, exacerbated by a nighttime assault on the al-Shouk power station.
The RSF, which holds much of western Sudan, has reportedly intensified its attacks on power infrastructure in army-controlled areas as part of its campaign against the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF). Electricity supplies in RSF-held regions have already been severely disrupted since the conflict erupted in April 2023.
Growing Humanitarian Toll
The nationwide outages are impacting millions, particularly the internally displaced, who are struggling with deteriorating living conditions. In Omdurman, part of greater Khartoum, bakery closures and water shortages are forcing residents to rely on untreated Nile water, raising public health concerns.
“The situation is unbearable. No electricity means no water, no bread, and no relief from the heat,” said a resident of Omdurman who requested anonymity for security reasons.
According to the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), the ongoing conflict has displaced over 12 million people and left nearly half of Sudan’s population—around 24.6 million—requiring urgent food assistance.
Strategic Infrastructure Under Siege
The Merowe Dam, located in northern Sudan, is a vital piece of infrastructure for the country’s energy grid. Efforts to restore operations at the dam have been underway since the initial attacks but remain unsuccessful.
“The Merowe Dam is critical not only for power generation but also for agriculture and water supply in northern Sudan. Its incapacitation is a severe blow to the region’s stability,” said a government official involved in the recovery efforts.
In addition to the Merowe facility, the RSF’s latest strikes on the al-Shouk power station have left vast swathes of the country in darkness, with little clarity on when normal operations might resume.
International Concerns
The escalating attacks on Sudan’s energy infrastructure have drawn condemnation from international organizations, with calls for both sides to refrain from targeting civilian infrastructure.
“The deliberate targeting of power stations is a clear violation of international humanitarian law. Millions of civilians are paying the price for this senseless conflict,” said a spokesperson for the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).
Despite repeated international efforts to mediate a ceasefire, including talks in Jeddah and Addis Ababa, Sudan’s warring factions remain locked in a deadly stalemate.
As the conflict drags on, experts warn that the destruction of critical infrastructure like the Merowe Dam could have long-term consequences for Sudan’s post-war recovery, deepening the economic and humanitarian crisis in one of Africa’s most fragile states.
