Drone Strikes Kill at Least 44 Civilians in Central Darfur and West Kordofan

Drone strikes on April 16, 2026 killed at least 44 civilians across Darfur and Kordofan. In Umm Dukhun district, Central Darfur, at least eight munitions were fired, killing at least 24 civilians and injuring approximately 20 others. In El Fula, capital of West Kordofan State, a separate drone strike hit the El Wahda market, killing nine civilians — including three women and six children. The attacks came one day after the Berlin International Conference concluded with €1.3 billion in pledges, underscoring the disconnect between international pledging events and the ongoing daily reality of aerial strikes against civilian populations across Sudan's conflict zones. The April 16 attacks continue a documented pattern of nearly 700 civilians killed in drone strikes across Darfur and Kordofan in the first three months of 2026 alone.