The death toll from Monday’s SAF drone strike on the South Darfur town of Kutayla has risen to more than 80 people, with over 100 others injured and at least 15 still missing, according to medical and local sources in the region.
The strike hit a large public gathering held to welcome the head of the RSF-aligned Civil Administration in South Darfur, Yusuf Idris Yusuf, who was touring southern localities. Witnesses said the drone—believed by residents and medical personnel to belong to General al-Burhan’s army (SAF)—fired six munitions that hit the reception site outside the local police headquarters, parts of the main market, and the al-Salam neighborhood.
Among the dead was Nyala Radio correspondent Dhowai Mohamed Dhow al-Beit. The fate of three senior Native Administration leaders also remains unknown: Nazir Mohamed Yaqub of the Tarjam, Nazir Yusuf Ali al-Ghali of the Habbania, and Emir Ali Hussein Di al-Nur of the Rizeigat in South Darfur.
Several women preparing food for the event were killed instantly, while teachers, students, RSF members, federal police, and civilians were among those confirmed dead or wounded. Some bodies were burned beyond recognition.
Medical officials told local media that many of the wounded were transferred to facilities in Add al-Fursan and Tulus, while the most critical cases were taken to Nyala Turkish Hospital and the Nyala Teaching Hospital, where several victims later succumbed to their injuries. Emergency surgeries were performed throughout Monday night.
RSF-linked Civil Administration officials said Yusuf Idris was injured but in stable condition after being evacuated first to Tulus and later to Nyala. The commander of the RSF’s forward operations in the area, Brig. Abshir Jibril Bilail, also survived the attack along with a group of accompanying journalists.
In the aftermath of the strike, RSF forces launched a sweeping wave of arrests across Kutayla. Four independent local sources confirmed that around 40 suspects and security personnel were detained and transported to Tulus on accusations of collaborating with SAF and providing coordinates for the drone strike.
Those detained include tribal leaders, members of the federal police, customs officers, and local residents, among them: Mudar Ahmed al-Zein of the Federal Police; Omdah Mohamed Abdelnabi Adam; Omdah Hassan al-Toum Adam; customs officer Nour al-Din Khamis; police officer Fawzi Abdelrahman Adam; and civilians Ayoub al-Doum Mohamed, Muadh Ishaq Mohamed Adam, and Jibr al-Din Abdelrahman Adam.
RSF forces also confiscated all Starlink devices from shops and neighborhoods, conducted door-to-door searches to seize personal electronics, and inspected civilians’ phones, locals said.
Kutayla—an important producer of peanuts and gum arabic—has been under RSF control since 2023. Monday’s attack occurred shortly after Yusuf Idris concluded visits to al-Salam, Gereida, as-Sannta, Buram, and Radom localities, arriving in Kutayla shortly before the strike.
