Sudan’s Foreign Ministry has raised alarm over a series of drone attacks targeting the strategic eastern city of Port Sudan, warning that the assaults threaten the safety of maritime navigation in the Red Sea and regional stability.
In a statement released Monday, the ministry directly blamed the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) for orchestrating the attacks, while indirectly accusing the United Arab Emirates (UAE) of sponsoring the operation. The ministry alleged that the UAE provided drones, weapons, and foreign mercenaries to assist RSF in launching strikes against critical civilian and military infrastructure.
According to the ministry, recent attacks have struck the port, airport, fuel depots, a power station, military bases, and even a hotel housing diplomats in Port Sudan—a city currently serving as the country’s temporary administrative hub.
“These attacks threaten regional security and the safety of navigation in the Red Sea,” the ministry stated, calling for international action against what it described as the RSF’s “regional sponsor.”
In a related development, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) confirmed that ships operating near Port Sudan reported GPS disruptions, raising concerns about broader navigational safety along one of the world’s most critical shipping lanes.
The international community has responded with widespread condemnation. Statements denouncing the attacks have been issued by the United Nations, African Union, United States, European Union, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt. The Sudanese government labeled the strikes as “external aggression” aimed at prolonging the internal conflict and undermining national stability.
Sudan recently severed diplomatic relations with the UAE, referring to it as an “aggressor state” over alleged arms shipments to the RSF. A legal complaint filed by Sudan at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) was dismissed due to jurisdictional issues, but the government says it still has an active case pending before the UN Security Council.
Officials in Khartoum claim the escalation comes as Sudanese forces regain territory previously held by the RSF. The ministry reiterated its call for a unified international stance to deter further foreign interference and protect Red Sea navigation from destabilizing threats.