UN Report: Transnational Networks and Foreign Fighters Fuel the War

Geneva (Agencies): Mohamed Ould Mohamed Cheikh, head of the UN fact-finding mission in Sudan, affirmed that the situation in Sudan points to the contours of an unprecedented catastrophe, as weapons technology, particularly long-range unmanned aerial vehicles (drones), has reshaped battlefields. In a statement before the Human Rights Council, Cheikh said the mission’s report, which he presented to the Council, highlights two key interrelated findings: first, how weapons technology, especially long-range drones, has transformed battlefields; and second, how these military capabilities are fueled by external support in the form of weapons, technology, logistics, training, and personnel. The use of long-range drones by both the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces is increasing, resulting in attacks that extend beyond traditional front lines with devastating consequences for civilians. As a result, civilians have been harmed in their homes, schools, hospitals, markets, displacement sites, and places of refuge, and while attending weddings, funerals, and community gatherings. This pattern cannot be measured solely by casualty figures, but by the loss of services, destroyed infrastructure, and the ongoing disruption of daily life.