Sudanese Officials Allege Cross-Border Drone Strikes Originating from Ethiopia

Overview of Allegations

On 28 October, representatives from the Sudanese government, including the General Intelligence Service (GIS) and the Ministry of Defence, held a press conference to present findings regarding drone activity in the ongoing conflict. Sudanese officials allege that Ethiopian territory is being used as a launch point for unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) attacks directed at targets within Sudan to support the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

Reported Data and Methodology

The government presented a summary of 64 documented incidents occurring between 15 February and 27 October. According to the briefing, these incidents involved:

• MALE UAV Operations: A majority of the listed events reportedly involved medium-altitude long-endurance (MALE) 'strategic' drones, which require runway infrastructure.
• Launch Sites: Officials identified the Asosa region in western Ethiopia as a frequent launch location. Two additional incidents were traced to Bahir Dar in northern Ethiopia.
• Weaponry: The report claimed that these sorties frequently utilized multiple missile payloads.

Verification of Claims

Sudanese authorities displayed recovered remnants of a previously undocumented one-way attack drone during the conference to support their assertions. Furthermore, officials identified two specific UAVs intercepted on 17 May and 23 May as Turkish-made Bayraktar Akıncıs.

It is important to note that these figures and claims originate solely from the Sudanese government’s intelligence and military briefing. Independent verification of these specific flight logs, launch locations, or the state origin of the drone hardware has not been provided by international observers or the Ethiopian government.

Practical Implications

These allegations highlight the intensifying regional concerns regarding the use of advanced aerial technology in the Sudanese conflict. Observers looking to verify these claims may monitor official statements from the Ethiopian Ministry of Foreign Affairs or reports from independent aviation monitoring groups regarding border activity. For formal updates, stakeholders should monitor official dispatches from the Sudanese News Agency (SUNA) and international humanitarian or diplomatic organizations monitoring the situation.