Drone Strike Kills 30 in Nyala Livestock Market Amid Sudan Conflict

A drone strike in Nyala, South Darfur, on Friday, October 16, 2026, killed at least 30 people and wounded 47 at a livestock market, according to medical sources at Nyala Hospital reporting to Agence France-Presse (AFP)[4][5][6][8][9][10]. The casualty figures were consistent across multiple reports[4][5][6][8][9][10].

This incident highlights the escalating human cost of the ongoing civil war in Sudan, where drone warfare contributes to a significant rise in civilian casualties[14][15]. United Nations reports show over 1,100 civilian deaths from drone attacks in Sudan between January and June 2026, representing about 80 percent of all recorded civilian deaths during that period[14][15].

Conflicting Accounts Emerge

The Sudanese Army (SAF) confirmed conducting air operations in Nyala on the same day as the strike[2][1]. The SAF stated its air forces carried out "targeted strikes against command centers of the Al-Dagalo militia and positions held by its mercenaries in the city of Nyala," claiming to have inflicted "heavy losses in personnel and equipment" on the Rapid Support Forces (RSF)[2]. The SAF did not directly address civilian casualties at the market[2][1]. Ahmed Ishaq Shanab, Information Minister and spokesman for the Darfur regional government, which is allied with the SAF, supported the army's account, stating the strikes caused "heavy losses" to the RSF and warned the RSF was "not safe" in Nyala[2].

In direct contradiction, the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) issued a media statement on October 16, 2026, condemning what they described as a drone strike by the Sudanese Armed Forces on a livestock market in Nyala[3]. The RSF characterized the attack as a "grave crime" and part of a "recurring and systematic pattern of targeting civilians"[3]. The RSF has controlled Nyala since October 2023[3].

The Aftermath and Civilian Toll

Medical sources at Nyala Hospital provided figures of 30 people killed and 47 wounded in the drone strike on the livestock market[4][5][6][8][9][10]. Eyewitnesses reported that two missiles struck the market, destroying shops and trapping people under rubble[11]. Videos reviewed by Radio Tamazuj following the attack showed damaged buildings, collapsed structures, and individuals recovering bodies[7][12][13]. Witnesses also reported that several people remained missing and were feared trapped, with heavy machinery arriving hours later for recovery efforts[11]. The strike hit the Al-Shuwayat section of the market where people were gathered for breakfast, destroying restaurants and cafes[11].

Ongoing Conflict in Sudan

This incident occurs within the broader context of the ongoing civil war in Sudan, which began in April 2023 between the Sudanese Army and the Rapid Support Forces[14][15]. The conflict has resulted in tens of thousands of deaths and displaced millions, creating a severe humanitarian crisis[14][15]. Both sides have increasingly utilized drones in their military operations[14].

What we could not confirm

We could not confirm the precise military targets the Sudanese Army claimed to have struck, nor the specific types of drones used in the attack[2]. The exact number of people still trapped under rubble after the strike remains unconfirmed[11].