UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has expressed deep concern over recent drone strikes on Port Sudan, warning that the attacks could significantly escalate the conflict and result in widespread civilian casualties. In a statement released on Wednesday, UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric described the situation as a “major escalation” in Sudan’s civil war.
The Red Sea city of Port Sudan, which has remained relatively stable since the outbreak of war in April 2023, is currently under the control of the army-backed government. It has now come under repeated drone attacks over the past four days, reportedly launched by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). These strikes have hit strategic locations, including on Wednesday when Sudan’s largest naval base was targeted, according to military sources.
Port Sudan is not only the administrative centre for the current government but also the main conduit for humanitarian aid entering the country. Dujarric warned that the attacks threaten to worsen already dire humanitarian conditions and disrupt crucial aid efforts.
The UN chief is also alarmed that the violence has reached an area that had served as a safe haven for hundreds of thousands of people displaced from the capital Khartoum and other war-torn regions. The city hosts several UN offices and relief organisations that have continued to operate amid the broader conflict.
The ongoing war between Sudan’s armed forces and the RSF has devastated much of the country. The latest developments follow Sudan’s decision to cut diplomatic ties with the United Arab Emirates, accusing it of arming the RSF and contributing to the destabilisation.
Guterres has urged restraint and renewed calls for a peaceful resolution to the conflict, as fears grow that Port Sudan — once a refuge — may now be drawn into the heart of the fighting.
