Satellite Images Show Militia Using Drones from Nyala

Sudan Events – Agencies

Satellite images have revealed at least three drones and the construction of hangars at an airport in South Darfur controlled by Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF), indicating a continued flow of advanced weaponry fueling the country’s devastating war.

Nyala is considered an RSF stronghold and serves as a base for launching attacks on El Fasher, the last stronghold of the Sudanese army and its allies in Darfur. The RSF has also targeted the nearby Zamzam camp, which suffers from severe famine and shelters displaced persons.

Use of Drones

Both the RSF and the Sudanese army have used drones in the ongoing conflict since April 2023, which erupted due to a power struggle. The war has resulted in tens of thousands of deaths and widespread hunger and disease across the country.

Images captured by Maxar Technologies show the construction of three hangars over five weeks between January and February. According to Maxar’s satellite analysis reviewed by Reuters, the first drone appeared at the airport on December 9, 2024.

In January, researchers from Yale University reported the presence of drones at the airport. According to an intelligence analysis by Janes, a defense consultancy, the drones identified in the images appear to be Chinese-made CH-95s, which have long-range reconnaissance and strike capabilities of up to 200 kilometers.

Reuters could not independently verify the identity of the drones or how they arrived in Nyala.

Chinese authorities and China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, which manufactures the CH-95 drones, did not respond to requests for comment.

Accusations Against the UAE

The Sudanese army has previously accused the RSF of using Nyala airport to receive weapons from the United Arab Emirates, claiming that the UAE has supplied the RSF with drones throughout the war.

In response to a request for comment, the UAE Foreign Ministry reiterated that Abu Dhabi does not provide support or supplies to any of the warring parties in Sudan, emphasizing its focus on humanitarian aid.

A spokesperson for the RSF dismissed claims of Emirati support as “baseless,” stating: “The RSF does not possess modern drones; the entity that owns them is the Sudanese army.”

Airstrikes in Nyala

A Reuters investigation last year revealed flights from the UAE to an airport near the Sudan-Chad border, which were suspected of transporting weapons to the RSF.

Satellite images indicate at least five new airstrikes by the Sudanese army near the drone hangars in Nyala between February 14 and 18.

An RSF source and a Western security analyst stated that the downing of a Sudanese military aircraft on Sunday night demonstrated a new advancement in the RSF’s anti-air capabilities.

A local humanitarian source reported that the aircraft bombed the airport twice before being shot down by anti-aircraft fire.

According to three aviation experts, the downed plane was most likely an Ilyushin Il-76, a cargo aircraft similar to another one shot down in North Darfur in October.

Videos verified by Reuters show crowds gathering near the wreckage of the burning aircraft.

The wreckage was geolocated north of Nyala, about one kilometer from the Al-Mustaqbal neighborhood.

The Sudanese army has not responded to requests for comment regarding the presence of drones in Nyala or the recent airstrikes in the area.