Drones Hit Power Grid in Sudan’s Capital

Published Tuesday, 27 October, 5:09 a.m. ET (11:09 a.m. Port Sudan) · Source: Sudan’s state electricity company, Sudan Electricity Holding Company

Khartoum woke up to another morning of darkness. A drone hit the Al-Markhiyat power substation, a local electricity site in Omdurman, the western half of Sudan’s capital region, early on Tuesday and cut electricity across large parts of the city.

It is the second day running that Sudan’s grid has been under attack in the war between the army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a paramilitary group. Our Sudan war explainer covers how the conflict reached this point.

What Happened at Al-Markhiyat

Eyewitnesses said a drone hit the Al-Markhiyat substation early on Tuesday. Large parts of Khartoum lost power, and as of 6:30 a.m. GMT (2:30 a.m. ET, 8:30 a.m. Khartoum) no official damage report had been issued.

Videos on social media showed smoke over the site, but we could not verify them. No statement had given the extent of the damage, and no casualty figures had been published.

Who Is Blamed, and What Is Unproven

A source at Sudan’s state electricity company said RSF drones targeted the transformer station. Officials had issued no formal statement on responsibility by 2:30 a.m. ET, and the RSF had not claimed the attack.

The RSF rarely comments on such accusations and says it works to protect civilians.

A Second Day of Grid Attacks

On Monday, Sudan Electricity Holding Company, the state utility, accused the RSF of drone attacks on five power substations across four Sudanese states: Sennar, Gedaref, Al-Jazira and White Nile. Those strikes caused widespread blackouts.

We reported that wave in our coverage of the south-east blackout. Al-Markhiyat has been hit before, in drone attacks in May and September 2025.

Why Power Is a Lifeline

Hospitals, water pumps and farm irrigation all depend on the grid. Without electricity, pumps stop and food production suffers.

Each outage also strains hospitals that run on fuel-hungry generators. Repairs take time when the same sites are struck again.

What It Means for US Readers

Sudan gets little attention in the United States, yet the war has displaced millions and drives calls for more aid and pressure on both sides. Strikes on grids show how the fighting now reaches daily life far from the front line.

For aid groups and policymakers, a failing grid raises the risk of disease and hunger, which usually pushes more people to flee across borders.

What Is Not Known

The exact time of impact, the number of drones and the scale of the damage are not confirmed. Nor is how long the outage will last, or whether the RSF was responsible.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is blamed for the Khartoum power strike?

A source at Sudan’s state electricity company blamed the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), the paramilitary group fighting Sudan’s army. No official statement or independent check confirmed that by 2:30 a.m. ET, and the RSF had not claimed the attack.

Why do attacks on power stations matter in Sudan?

Hospitals, water pumps and farm irrigation depend on the grid. When it fails, health care and food production suffer for millions of people.

Sources: statements of Sudan’s state electricity company and Sudan Electricity Holding Company; eyewitness accounts.

This article was produced by The Rio Times’ automated newsroom system. How we use AI · Report an error · Editorial responsibility: Matthias Camenzind, Editor-in-Chief