During the reference period, drone strikes were reported in El Daein, for example, in March744 and August745 2025, as well as in March, 746 April,747 and May748 2026. Reportedly, as of April 2026, East Darfur had recorded more than 250 drone attacks over the preceding six months, the highest number among Sudan’s states.749 El Daein was repeatedly attacked by the SAF as part of efforts to push the RSF out of Sudan’s central corridor.750
In June 2025, media sources reported that the RSF detained local officials in El-Daein and military personnel following changes in its local leadership.751 In January 2026, the RSF reportedly carried out an arrest campaign, targeting politicians, former military personnel, and civil servants.752 The head of the civil administration in the state was arrested in August 2026.753 Arrests of tribal leaders were also reported.754 In February 2026, clashes erupted between two RSF-affiliated groups in Khazan Jedeed, Shia’ria (Sha’iriya) district, following the arrest of individuals wanted in connection with both factions, leading to armed confrontations within the town.755
Clashes between herders and farmers occurred across Darfur from October to December 2025, during the harvest period, with Yassin and Shia'ria (Sha’iriya) in East Darfur among the particularly affected areas. Reportedly, four people (two farmers756 and two pastoralists) were killed in such disputes in the state during the 2025 agricultural season.757 In June 2026, community leaders and livestock owners in East Darfur warned that delays in making livestock migration corridors, grazing land and water sources accessible risked renewed confrontation between pastoralists and farmers with the onset of the rainy season.758
- 744
Sudan Tribune, Missile strikes hit government buildings in Sudan’s El Daein and Nyala, 17 March 2025, url
- 745
Sudan Tribune, Sudan army airstrike hits RSF-held building in Darfur, dozens injured, officials say, 13 August 2025, url
- 746
Darfur 24, Drone Strike on Fuel Depot in Al-Daein Kills Six Civilians, 9 March 2026, url; Sudan Tribune, Six killed in army drone strike on East Darfur fuel market, 8 March 2026, url
- 747
Sudan Tribune, Sudan army drone strikes kill 20 in Darfur, officials say, 13 April 2026, url
- 748
Darfur 24, Drone Strikes Escalate Across Darfur, Hitting RSF Sites and Civilian Infrastructure, 12 May 2026, url
- 749
Sudan Tribune, Sudan drone strikes kill hundreds as warring parties target civilian sites, 8 April 2026, url
- 750
Al Jazeera, WHO says attack on Sudan hospital killed 64, including 13 children, 21 March 2026, url
- 751
Sudan Tribune, RSF detains local officials in East Darfur, citing government ties – sources, 11 June 2025, url
- 752
Darfur 24, RSF Releases East Darfur Mayor After Mediation, 13 January 2026, url
- 753
Darfur 24, RSF arrests East Darfur civil administration chief, 8 August 2026, url
- 754
Sudan Tribune, RSF detains tribal leader, 16 others in Sudan’s East Darfur, 22 January 2026, url; Darfur 24, RSF Releases East Darfur Mayor After Mediation, 13 January 2026, url
- 755
Darfur 24, RSF Deploys Reinforcements to Khazan Jadid After Deadly Internal Clashes, 4 February 2026, url
- 756
Darfur 24, Spike in deadly attacks on farmers in Central and East Darfur, 29 November 2025, url
- 757
Ayin Network, Herders vs. farmers: No harvests possible in hunger-stricken Darfur, 30 December 2025, url
- 758
Darfur 24, East Darfur Herders Warn of Farmer-Herder Clashes Over Delayed Opening of Livestock Routes, 22 June 2026, url