Drone attacks on power stations have plunged several Sudanese cities into prolonged darkness, leaving residents without reliable electricity for hours at a time. In Port Sudan, Kamal Mohammed, 42, who has managed diabetes for years, says the outages have made his life “catastrophic”. Repeated strikes on energy infrastructure have also disrupted water supplies, communications and medical services for civilians already affected by the war between the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF).
The war, which broke out in April 2023, has displaced more than 14 million civilians, including about 4.5 million who have fled to neighbouring countries. More than 150,000 people are believed to have been killed. The fighting between the two former military allies has increasingly involved civilians and civilian infrastructure, and attacks on energy facilities have severely affected healthcare, aid groups and other services vital for daily life.
Power cuts disrupt insulin and medical care in Port Sudan
Kamal relies on regular insulin injections, but unstable electricity makes it hard for him to track his doses or keep the medication at the required temperature. “I need an insulin dose every day, but sometimes I have to skip it when power cuts last so long that the refrigerator loses its cooling,” he said.
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Refrigeration is no longer a reliable option for many people, so some are buying ice to keep their medicine cool. Kamal said he cannot easily afford this. “I can barely afford my medication as my salary is not more than 150,000 Sudanese pounds [$14.4]. Buying even a small block of ice could cost me 7,000 pounds [$0.67] a day,” he said.
The United Nations has warned about the harrowing effect of the attacks on civilians who are already living in deep poverty. Denise Brown, UN resident and humanitarian coordinator, said she did not know where the drone strikes were coming from and called for the attacks to stop. “There is no defence for repeatedly hitting power stations and fuel stations. People who need lifesaving dialysis can’t get it. Women are giving birth with no lights in the hospital. Operations can’t take place.”
Attacks cut power generation across at least nine states
The RSF has intensified attacks on power stations around Khartoum state over the past month, creating an energy crisis in the capital. There is no clear schedule for the power cuts there, which can last between six hours and a day.
Between October 20 and November 2, 2026, there were at least 18 attacks on electricity infrastructure in at least nine states. According to figures cited by a news agency, electricity generation has fallen from about 4,400 megawatts before the war to about 1,100MW today.
Mohammed al-Husseini, a political analyst, said the RSF stepped up attacks on civilian infrastructure after the SAF captured strategically important towns in the Kordofan region and other areas in recent weeks. He said the strikes were aimed at weakening Sudan’s economy and disrupting agricultural and industrial production, particularly as the country prepares for a new agricultural season.
Al-Husseini also said the attacks were meant to disrupt essential services. “The attacks also sought to disrupt essential services and deepen humanitarian pressures, given electricity’s role in supplying water, maintaining communications and keeping medical facilities, including dialysis centres, operational.”
Businesses and households struggle with rising electricity costs
The energy crisis has left businesses struggling to operate. Osama Omar, 22, an engineering student, opened a laundry in the Deim Madina neighbourhood of Port Sudan about six months ago to cover his basic living expenses. Prolonged outages now threaten the business, which relies heavily on electricity.
“For nearly a month now, the supply has become increasingly unreliable, with outages lasting more than 24 hours,” Omar said. He has tried to adjust to the rolling cuts, but their unpredictability has left laundry piling up and forced him to turn down some new orders. “Running my business in Sudan already comes with many challenges because of the war, the unstable exchange rate and rising operating costs,” he said. “But power cuts have become another war that Sudanese people are being forced to fight.”
Kamal said electricity was far more stable before the fighting. Before the war, his monthly bill was no more than 3,000 pounds [$0.28]. Now it can reach 100,000 pounds [$9.61], although it is sometimes lower because of the prolonged cuts. Solar panels, which some families have bought, cost between 4 and 6 million pounds ($385 to $577), putting them out of reach for most households in Port Sudan.
Displacement camps left without lighting or water
Camps hosting displaced people are among the hardest hit. Sabri Adam, deputy head of the committee overseeing al-Karama 3 displacement camp in al-Damazin, the capital of Blue Nile state, said the camp’s 3,000 residents are struggling to cope. “The camp has no electricity supply, relying on just three large floodlights for lighting – one near the communal toilets and two beside the water tanks.”
Azhar Abdullah, a displaced woman living in al-Karama 3, said the lack of water and electricity has worsened the condition of her 13-year-old daughter, who has a thyroid disorder that requires extra care. “Her heart rate increases and she experiences severe pain when she has to wash clothes by hand or exert herself physically,” Abdullah said. She added that she worries her daughter’s condition will deteriorate because of the strenuous tasks she must do each day without basic services.
