Sudan's grid hangs by a thread as drone attacks take out 15 substations

Sudan's national power grid is on the brink of total failure after drone strikes destroyed substations in two northern towns on Sunday. The attacks leave the country's electricity network dependent almost entirely on a single hydroelectric dam. The Sudan Doctors Network warned that the outages now endanger hospitals, dialysis centers, and blood banks across the region.

The strikes hit Al-Dabbah in Northern state and Abu Hamad in River Nile state. Both towns lost all power immediately. In Al-Dabbah, residents reported a loud explosion shortly after 4 a.m. that shook local homes. By sunrise, the substation was completely burned out. The station's guard, Mohammed al-Nour, was killed in the blast. His funeral drew a large crowd from the city.

The loss of electricity has halted business activity and forced residents to seek expensive alternatives. Seif al-Rawasi, a baker in Al-Dabbah, said his generator was useless because the city has no diesel fuel. He stated he would eventually have to shut down his business. Farmers face a similar crisis as the winter growing season begins. Irrigation pumps rely on electricity, and without diesel backups, crops are at risk.

In Abu Hamad, a drone strike destroyed the local substation the same day. The local security committee reported no casualties in that town. Emergency Lawyers, a rights group tracking the attacks, blamed the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces for the Sunday strikes. The group said 15 substations have been targeted since early October.

The current wave of attacks began late Wednesday. Drones hit the Um Dabakir thermal power station in White Nile state. This plant has a capacity of 500 megawatts and is the country's largest thermal station. An employee at the Sudan Electric Holding Company said the attack destroyed four transformers and damaged three generating units. The station's director confirmed it was shut down. White Nile and North Kordofan states have been cut off from the main grid.

Early Friday, a drone carrying four missiles struck Shendi's main substation. The local security committee said the attack also hit a reserve depot and an army air defense hangar, wounding one soldier. The Merowe Dam, with a capacity of 1,250 megawatts, is now the last major source of electricity. It provides more than 70% of Sudan's power. Other hydroelectric dams produce no more than 100 megawatts combined. Total production has fallen from 4,400 megawatts before the war to 1,100.

Sudan's Foreign Ministry announced Saturday that the drones were supplied by the United Arab Emirates and launched from Ethiopia. The UAE has repeatedly denied arming the Rapid Support Forces. The RSF did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The war has killed at least 59,000 people and displaced some 13 million. A typical household solar system costs nearly $5,000, a price beyond the reach of most families.