At least 21 people were killed and more than 40 injured when a drone struck Tangooj market in Nyala, the capital of South Darfur, on Monday evening.

A medic at Nyala Hospital confirmed the death toll and the number of injured, though the exact split between civilians and combatants remains unclear.

Witnesses said the market was frequented by armed men, including RSF fighters, at the time of the strike.

Escalating conflict in Nyala

The attack comes amid a broader intensification of Sudanese army operations against the Rapid Support Forces, which control Nyala and have set up a rival administration to the Khartoum government.

Over the past week the army has increased airstrikes targeting RSF positions, command facilities and air‑defence systems near Nyala International Airport.

Humanitarian fallout

The United Nations reported that drone strikes have caused at least 306 deaths in the first three weeks of October, underscoring a growing threat to civilians.

Since the war began in April 2023, tens of thousands have been killed and millions displaced, with food supplies and humanitarian aid increasingly disrupted.

International actors, including the United States and the European Union, have called for expanded humanitarian access to avert famine in the conflict‑hit regions.