Drone Strikes by RSF in Khartoum and Port Sudan Escalate UAE-Turkey Rivalry Amid Haiti Peligre Dam Blackout

The ongoing conflict in Sudan, which began in April 2023, has escalated with recent drone strikes revealing deepening tensions between the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Turkey, who back opposing sides. The Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a paramilitary group, have intensified long-range drone attacks targeting critical infrastructure in Khartoum and Port Sudan, including power stations, dams, oil depots, the city's airport, and a strategic naval base. These strikes have caused widespread power outages across Khartoum state, plunging the capital into darkness and exacerbating the humanitarian crisis. Notably, on May 3, drones operated by Turkish forces allied with the Sudanese army struck a military cargo plane at Nyala airport, suspected of carrying suicide drones, ammunition, and radar systems.

The drone warfare marks a shift from ground battles to aerial destabilization, highlighting the advanced capabilities of combatants and the influential role of external actors like Ankara and Abu Dhabi in fueling the conflict. Meanwhile, in Haiti, the Peligre hydroelectric dam, the country's largest power producer, has ceased electricity production after unknown individuals took control of the facility, resulting in a total blackout in Port-au-Prince. The head of Haiti's electricity company, EDH, confirmed the loss of control over the dam, causing widespread confusion and insecurity in the capital.