At Least 75 Killed in a Devastating Drone Strike During Dawn Prayers in Sudan
Ethiomonitor -Addis Ababa
September 21, 2025
In a tragic incident on Friday morning, the Rapid Support Forces launched a drone strike on the Abu Shouk mosque in El Fasher, North Darfur, while residents were attending dawn prayers. The attack has resulted in the gruesome deaths of 75 individuals, leading to it being termed a mass slaughter. The fact that the attack occurred during a sacred moment for the community has amplified its impact.
The emergency room at the Abu Shouk camp confirmed that the strike specifically targeted the mosque, where internally displaced people had gathered. Among those killed were notable figures, including Mayor Adam Abdullah Sharaf (Wad al-Sheikh), who led the civil administration of the Abu Shouk camp, and King Sharif, head of the Dar Sweini administration. Their deaths, along with those of many civilians, represent a significant loss for the community.
According to the Coordination of Resistance Committees in El Fasher, the drone used in the attack was operated by the United Arab Emirates, which reportedly supplies these drones to the Rapid Support Forces militia. Witnesses described the aftermath of the attack as horrific, highlighting the city’s dire shortage of shrouds and other resources necessary for burying the victims. This situation underscores the grim reality faced by the residents.
The massacre has ignited widespread outrage and condemnation among the people of El Fasher and across Sudan, with calls for accountability for those responsible for targeting civilians in their places of worship. Meanwhile, the humanitarian crisis in the city continues to worsen, exacerbated by the siege imposed by the Rapid Support Forces. A previous United Nations Fact-Finding Mission had already concluded that the Rapid Support Forces committed crimes against humanity in El Fasher, including the deliberate use of starvation as a method of warfare.
