Drone Warfare in Sudan and Myanmar Underscores Rising Civilian Risk in Internal Conflicts
In Sudan, an allAfrica report says drone strikes killed at least 306 people in three weeks amid fighting between the national army and the Rapid Support Forces, while in Myanmar the army is using drones against Arakan Army rebels in Bago and Magway.
Recent reports from Sudan and Myanmar point to the same direction of travel in modern civil wars: low‑cost drones are becoming central tools of violence, with civilians increasingly exposed.
In Sudan, a report published on October 23 by allAfrica says at least 306 people were killed in drone strikes over a three‑week period. The strikes occurred during the war between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces, which has been ongoing since April 2023. The casualty figure suggests frequent use of armed drones rather than occasional strikes.
In Myanmar, the army has conducted drone strikes on Arakan Army rebels in Bago and Magway Division. The Arakan Army is an ethnic Rakhine armed group fighting the military authorities in several regions of the country.
For civilians in both conflicts, armed drones change the pattern of danger. People who once watched for ground checkpoints, artillery positions or visible troop movements now face the risk of munitions launched from aircraft that may be hard to detect before they strike. Displacement camps, urban neighborhoods and rural villages can all fall within a drone’s reach.
In Sudan, where services have already been battered by more than a year of war, a three‑week span with hundreds of reported drone‑related deaths likely means many more wounded and significant psychological stress. Hospitals and emergency responders are in no position to absorb a sudden spike in casualties from aerial attacks.
In Myanmar, drone strikes add another layer of fear in areas that have already seen ground offensives and artillery fire. For groups such as the Arakan Army, constant surveillance and the threat of sudden hits from above complicate efforts to move fighters, supplies and equipment.
The spread of drone use in these wars complicates diplomatic efforts aimed at de‑escalation. Any ceasefire or deconfliction arrangement now has to address access to drones, their launch sites, operators and supply of parts, not just traditional heavy weapons.
Key developments to watch include whether the reported rate of drone‑related casualties in Sudan remains this high, whether Myanmar’s military extends drone operations to other fronts, and whether outside powers seek to curb the flow of components that can be turned into armed drones.
Sources
- OSINT