UN Mission: External Support Fuels Sudan War, Drones Commit War Crimes

On Thursday, September 3, 2026, the UN Fact-Finding Mission on Sudan reported that external support is fueling the conflict and that drone attacks by both the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on civilian targets, including hospitals, schools, and markets, may constitute war crimes in Sudan. The mission, established by the Human Rights Council in October 2023, is mandated to investigate all human rights abuses and violations of international humanitarian law (IHL) within the ongoing armed conflict since April 15, 2023. Its report highlighted that the recruitment of foreign individuals and external support networks are exacerbating the war, enhancing the military capabilities of the warring parties, and enabling increasingly sophisticated military operations. The mission found reasonable grounds to believe that drone attacks by both the SAF and RSF on markets, schools, electricity supplies, and fuel infrastructure represent grave violations of human rights and IHL, potentially rising to the level of war crimes. The report also noted a significant shift in aerial operations since 2025, with both sides now employing advanced drones capable of surveillance and long-range attacks, including short-range multi-rotor aircraft, reusable fixed-wing drones, and one-way attack platforms.