Drones hammer Sudan's gold and oil zone - the pivotal new front line

BBC News - WorldEN 5 min read 100% complete February 25, 2026 at 01:43 AM

AI Summary

long article 5 min

The civil war in Sudan has intensified in the Kordofan region, a strategic area rich in gold and oil, becoming the new epicenter of fighting between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Since the army retook Khartoum and the RSF consolidated control in Darfur, Kordofan has seen near-daily drone strikes that have caused mass civilian casualties and damage to civilian infrastructure like markets and health facilities. The UN has condemned the attacks on civilian objects and called for urgent measures to protect civilians. Kordofan's location is strategically important as it links Darfur, controlled by the RSF, to Khartoum, held by the army. Control of Kordofan would allow the RSF to potentially seize back Sudan's central corridor and anchor its administration in western Sudan.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

United States 30% Darfur ×240% Volker Türk 40% United Nations (UN) ×250% Khartoum ×360% Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) ×270% Rapid Support Forces (RSF) ×480% Sudan ×380% Kordofan ×790%

Keywords

sudan civil war 100% drone strikes 90% kordofan region 90% civilian casualties 80% rapid support forces (rsf) 70% sudanese armed forces (saf) 60% gold and oil zone 50% humanitarian crisis 50% khartoum 40% darfur 40%