A devastating drone strike targeted the family home of a high-profile military commander in central Sudan late Saturday, killing nine people, including six children. The attack, which struck the village of Al-Kahli approximately 40 kilometers east of Wad Madani, marks a significant escalation in the use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) as the Sudanese conflict enters its fourth year.
Military sources reported that the strike targeted the residence of Abu Aqla Keikel, leader of the Sudan Shield Forces and a pivotal figure in the regional power struggle. The casualties include two of Keikel’s brothers, a relative identified as senior commander Siddiq Bakheet, and six children. While neither the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) nor the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have issued official statements, sources close to the army have blamed the RSF for the targeted hit.
The strike appears to be a direct retaliation for Keikel’s high-stakes defection. Formerly a senior commander within the RSF, Keikel switched sides to support the Sudanese Army in October 2024. His intimate knowledge of RSF operations helped the SAF reclaim strategic territories in Al-Jazirah State and the capital, Khartoum, making him a primary target for his former allies.
This tragedy coincides with a surge in “drone warfare” across the country. Earlier this week, Khartoum was hit by two drone strikes for the first time in months, while heavy fighting continues to intensify in Darfur, South Kordofan, and the Blue Nile State. The shift toward remote aerial attacks has significantly increased the risk to civilians, contributing to a death toll that some international monitors now estimate exceeds 200,000 people since the outbreak of hostilities in April 2023.
As the humanitarian situation deteriorates, the United Nations has reiterated that Sudan remains the site of the world’s worst displacement crisis. The death of six children in Saturday’s strike serves as a grim reminder of the war’s disproportionate impact on the youth, who face a collapsing education system and persistent insecurity. Despite repeated international calls for a ceasefire, the move toward precision strikes on political figures suggests the warring factions are currently more focused on leadership decapitation than diplomatic resolution.
