# Drone Strike Kills 80 Civilians Near Market in Sudan's West Kordofan

> An evening drone attack in Al-Dibab, West Kordofan, Sudan, on October 18, 2026, left at least 80 people dead near a market and bus stop, according to witness and medical reports.

By PrimaryBrief newsroom · Published 2026-10-19T15:37:40.249703Z
Canonical: https://primarybrief.com/article/drone-strike-kills-80-civilians-near-market-in-sudan-s-west-kordofan-55957d77

A drone strike on Sunday evening, October 18, 2026, in Al-Dibab, West Kordofan, Sudan, killed at least 80 people near a market and bus stop [1][2]. The attack adds to the significant civilian death toll in the ongoing conflict in Sudan, highlighting the direct impact of violence on ordinary people [3][6].

## What the records show

The drone strike occurred in the town of Al-Dibab, located in West Kordofan state, on Sunday evening [1][2]. A direct witness, Ahmed Abakar Wadi, reported helping to bury 50 bodies, including his brother Mohamed [2][3][4]. Wadi stated the attack happened at "a transport hub where people gather to travel back to their villages after the market day ends" [3]. He also recounted two separate strikes, approximately 10 minutes apart [3].

Medical sources confirmed that an additional 30 individuals died from their injuries after being transported for treatment to the nearby town of Al-Mujlad, bringing the total reported fatalities to 80 [1][2][5]. Most of the victims were commuters waiting for trucks to return home from the market [5][6]. The strike is considered one of the deadliest single attacks since the conflict began in April 2023 [3][6].

## The timeline

The drone strike took place on Sunday evening, October 18, 2026 [1][2]. Reports of the incident emerged on Monday, October 19, 2026 [2][3][4].

## What changed and for whom

The lives of at least 80 people were ended, and their families and communities were left to cope with the sudden loss [1][2][6]. The attack specifically targeted an area where people were congregating at the end of a market day, affecting civilians engaged in daily activities [3][5][6]. The conflict, which began in April 2023, has resulted in an estimated 200,000 deaths and created a large-scale humanitarian crisis [3].

## What the subject has said publicly

The Rapid Support Forces (RSF)-declared administration, known as Tasis, accused the Sudanese army of carrying out the drone strike [3][6]. West Kordofan state, where the attack occurred, is currently under RSF control [3].

## What we could not confirm

We could not confirm which specific entity was responsible for launching the drone that carried out the strike [3][6]. The exact number of injured individuals who survived or are still receiving treatment also remains unconfirmed [3].

## Evidence cited
1. Drone attack near southern Sudan market kills scores (www.france24.com) — https://www.france24.com/en/africa/20261019-drone-attack-near-southern-sudan-market-kills-scores
2. bssnews.net — https://bssnews.net/
3. bignewsnetwork.com — https://bignewsnetwork.com/
4. iol.co.za — https://iol.co.za/
5. ua.news — https://ua.news/
6. dhakatribune.com — https://dhakatribune.com/