UN Chief raises alarm on widening Sudan war amid increased use of drones
By Cynthia Lodite, May 12, 2026United Nations (UN) Secretary-General António Guterres has issued a warning about the ongoing civil war in Sudan, declaring that the conflict is tearing apart the country amid a reported increase in drone attacks.
In a statement on his official X account on Tuesday, May 12, 2026, Guterres warned that the conflict is inflicting an “unconscionable price” on civilians, particularly women and children.
Guterres went on to reiterate his longstanding appeal for an immediate cessation of hostilities, a sustainable ceasefire, and a Sudanese-led, civilian, democratic transition.
“The war in Sudan is tearing apart the country. Civilians are paying an unconscionable price, with women & children suffering most. I repeat my call for an immediate cessation of hostilities, a sustainable ceasefire, and a Sudanese-led, civilian, democratic transition,” Guterres stated.
Use of drones in Sudan war
UN Secretary General’s remarks come moments after the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk strongly condemned the rising use of weapons in the brutal war between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which recently entered a fourth year.
“Armed drones have now become by far and away the leading cause of civilian deaths,” he said.
“This increasing reliance on drones allows hostilities to continue unabated in the approaching rainy season, which in the past has brought about a lull in ground operations.”
The High Commissioner warned of the further spread of violence in coming weeks “as the parties seek to gain or consolidate control of territory amid shifting conflict dynamics” that could spark more displacement and disruption to humanitarian aid.
“This must not be allowed to happen,” he said. “The international community is on notice that, unless action is taken without delay, this conflict is on the cusp of entering yet another new, even deadlier phase.”
According to the United Nations report on Monday, May 11, 2026, the use of drones by both warring parties is increasingly spreading beyond the Kordofan and Darfur regions to Blue Nile, White Nile and Khartoum.
In addition, a strike on Khartoum International Airport on 4 May resulted in the disruption of all flights, while several targeted drone attacks occurred elsewhere in Khartoum and its twin city of Omdurman between 28 April and 5 May.
“The intensity of these attacks has shattered the relative calm that has prevailed in recent months, as increasing numbers of civilians have returned to the capital – and triggered fears of a return of hostilities to Khartoum,” Türk added.
A likely intensification of hostilities in Kordofan will also put civilians at greater risk of retaliatory attacks and further large-scale displacement, he added. This is particularly the case in the SAF-controlled cities of El Obeid and Dilling in South Kordofan, which have both been under siege-like conditions.