Deadly Drone Strike Kills 70 in Darfur Mosque UN Demands Ceasefire

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The United Nations Secretary-General has urgently called for a ceasefire in Sudan’s Darfur region after a deadly drone attack killed more than 70 people at a mosque in el-Fasher on Friday. He expressed deep concern over the “rapidly worsening situation” in the area.

“The fighting must stop immediately,” the UN chief said in a statement, urging both sides of the conflict to start talks and allow safe passages for humanitarian aid. Sudan has been struggling with a brutal civil war for three years, causing widespread suffering.

El-Fasher, the main city in North Darfur, is one of the last strongholds of the government-supported Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and its allies. The city has been under siege for over a year by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which recently intensified their attacks to capture it.

Humanitarian organizations warn that hundreds of thousands of people in el-Fasher are trapped without access to food, water, and medicine. The United Nations has described the situation in Sudan as the worst humanitarian crisis in the world, with thousands killed and millions displaced.

Many residents fleeing the city have reported attacks by the RSF while trying to reach nearby refugee camps. By late August, around 600,000 people were estimated to have been forced to leave el-Fasher.

Military sources reported that RSF drones continued to attack el-Fasher on Saturday, with shelling described as among the most severe the city has seen in years. On Friday, a drone strike targeted a mosque during dawn prayers, killing over 70 worshippers, including children. The government blamed the RSF for this horrific attack and confirmed that dozens more were displaced due to the violence.

This attack is one of the deadliest since the RSF began the siege last year. Civilians have suffered repeated attacks on hospitals, schools, and shelters, worsening an already dire situation.

Sudan’s Prime Minister announced that he would raise the crisis at the United Nations General Assembly in New York, as world leaders gather for discussions. The attack also hit a UNICEF-supported water truck, prompting calls from international organizations to protect children and ensure humanitarian aid reaches those in need.

African Union leaders condemned the drone strike, calling it a serious violation of international law. The strike comes amid a UN report warning that Sudan is experiencing increasing ethnic violence, attacks on civilians, and the use of sexual violence as a weapon.

The report revealed that 3,384 civilians were killed in the first half of 2025 alone, with the actual numbers likely higher due to difficulties in collecting information. UNICEF reported more than 1,000 children injured, abducted, or recruited into armed groups in el-Fasher.

In July, the International Criminal Court briefed the UN that war crimes and crimes against humanity are ongoing in Darfur. Prosecutors stated that rape and sexual violence are being used deliberately, and abductions are common to fund armed groups or recruit fighters.

Experts warn that the situation could still worsen if urgent measures are not taken. The UN and humanitarian agencies continue to call for dialogue, protection of civilians, and safe access for aid workers to prevent further loss of life.

This attack highlights the growing danger faced by ordinary people in Sudan, as the war between the SAF and RSF continues to devastate cities, destroy lives, and force hundreds of thousands to flee.