About the Incident

Date: 27th April 2026
Time: AM
Location (general): Block 4, Al-Hamidiya IDP camp, Central Darfur State
Location (exact): 12.9322, 23.4958
Reported casualties: Six killed and “dozens” wounded (according to Emergency Lawyers Group and Committee for Justice)

Introduction

During the night of 26th to 27th April 2026, likely the morning of 27th April, what appears to have been a drone strike took place in Al-Hamidiya Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) Camp, Zalingi, Central Darfur State. NGOs such as Emergency Lawyers Group and Committee For Justice claimed that six people had been killed and “dozens” wounded. At the time of this incident, Zalingi was under control of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), who had previously accused the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) of targeting civilian infrastructure. This incident was notable because Al-Hamidiya IDP Camp was reportedly one of the key facilities providing essential humanitarian services such as healthcare and food amid a severe crisis affecting Central Darfur State.

Methodology and Content Identified

Sudanese Archive conducted this investigation using a multi-stage open source research approach, which included collecting, preserving, and analysing 30 digital records. For more information about Sudanese Archive’s research methodology, please visit our website.

Initial content, primarily consisting of news reports, was identified within Mnemonic’s Sudanese Archive. Searches were conducted within the Archive and online using terms such as “al Hamadiya”, “Zalingi”, “strike” and “block 4” in both Arabic and English across platforms including Google, Facebook, X and Telegram. Official social media channels of both the RSF and SAF were checked for statements about this incident. High resolution satellite imagery of the suspected location of the strike was purchased to confirm the strike location. There was a multitude of text-based descriptive content, which made claims or statements but did not depict the incident itself. Ultimately six posts were identified containing visually-examinable content, meaning posts with images or videos which could be examined and analysed for information relating to location, timing and damage. Images which depict people who may be minors have been edited to obscure their faces as a protective measure.

Relevant Visual Open Source Materials

Post 1

Link: https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=974249451848691

Date and time posted: 27th April 2026, 16:41 CAT
Description: Video watermarked as being from “Dabanga” depicting a crowd gathered around a crater and in the vicinity of destroyed buildings. The caption reads “An attack by a Sudanese army drone this morning, Monday April 27, 2026”.
Source: news organisation
Original source: unknown

Picture 1.jpg — *Redactions by Sudanese Archive.*

Post 2

Link: https://www.facebook.com/Fur24/videos/3742066752601826/

Date and time posted: 27th April 2026, 08:31 CAT
Description: Video depicting a crowd gathered around a crater and in the vicinity of destroyed buildings, with the Sun low in the sky. A man, presumably the person using the camera, provides narration in Arabic, referring to the buildings and the crater, stating that this was where a “shell” landed.
Source: news organisation
Original source: unknown

Picture 2.jpg — *Redactions by Sudanese Archive.*

Post 3

Link: https://t.me/TaseesSFA/849

Date and time posted: 28th April 2026, 13:42 CAT
Description: Video watermarked as being from “TaseesSFA” comprising multiple clips, depicting destruction and a tour of the area with senior community members.
Source: political group: Sudan Founding Alliance (SFA)
Original source: political group - Sudan Founding Alliance

Picture 3.jpg

Post 4

Link: https://x.com/NidalSaad4/status/2048837841871065302/photo/2

Date and time posted: 27th April 2026, 20:53 CAT
Description: Four still images depicting destruction.
Source: X/Twitter activist account
Original source: unknown

Picture 4.jpg

Post 5

Link: https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1640436607169903

Date and time posted: 29th April 2026, 09:13 CAT
Description: Video depicting members of the Civil Administration of Central Darfur State examining destruction.
Source: Official account of the Civil Administration of Central Darfur State
Original source: Official account of the Civil Administration of Central Darfur State

Picture 5.jpg

Post 6

Link: Facebook post now offline, but archived

Date and time posted: 27 April 2026, 13:33 CAT
Description: Video watermarked as being from “Al Hakika TV” comprising multiple clips, which shares most footage with Post 3, however also depicts the inside of a building immediately next to the crater.
Source: al Hakika News
Original source: Likely the political group Sudan Founding Alliance

Impact Location

Co-location

The six pieces of examinable visual content identified during online searches all depict the same location, although two of the still images from Post 4 could not be confirmed as being from this location, due to being taken at close range or inside buildings. As mentioned above, Post 6 shares most of its footage with Post 3.

Picture 6.jpg — *Top: Panoramic from* *Post 2* *at 00:06. Bottom: Still from* *Post 1* *at 00:22. Annotations and redactions by Sudanese Archive.*

Picture 7.jpg — *Top: Still from* *Post 3* *at 00:28. Bottom: Panoramic from* *Post 2* *at 00:06. Annotations and redactions by Sudanese Archive.*

Picture 8.jpg — *Top: Panoramic from* *Post 2* *at 00:06. Bottom: still from* *Post 5* *at 00:40. Annotations and redactions by Sudanese Archive.*

Of the four still images seen in Post 4, two could be geolocated.

Picture 9.jpg — *Top:* *Image 1, Post 4. Bottom: still from* *Post 1* *at 00:22. Annotations and redactions by Sudanese Archive.*

Picture 10.jpg — *Top:* *Image 2, Post 4. Bottom: Still from* *Post 5* *at 03:16. Annotations by Sudanese Archive.*

Geolocation

In order to identify the area where this strike occurred, posts were examined to identify potential locations. At least eight [1] posts identified “block 4” as the location that had been impacted within Al-Hamidiya IDP Camp. Wikimapia identified two IDP camps in the vicinity of Zalingi.

Picture 11.jpg — *Screenshot of* *Wikimapia* *depicting Zalingi. Note the IDP camps to the west and north-east of the town. Scale marker and north point annotations added by Sudanese Archive..*

The names of locations listed on Google Maps within these camps were examined to identify if the location of “block 4” could be ascertained. One location was identified named “نادي مربع اربع”, which could translate to “block 4 club”.

Analysis of 10 meter/pixel resolution satellite imagery from Copernicus identified that there may have been a change near this location that could be due to the impact, however the resolution meant this could not be confirmed. High resolution satellite imagery was obtained which shows significant change and what appears to be a crater-shaped feature at this location [2].

The location of the crater-shaped feature in the satellite imagery matches, to the highest level of confidence possible, the location seen in the examinable visual content posted online.

Picture 12.jpg — *Top: Panoramic from* *Post 2* *at 00:06-00:07. Bottom: Satellite image depicting location at 12.9322, 23.4958 (Credit: Google / Airbus). Annotations and redactions by Sudanese Archive.*

Picture 13.jpg — *Top: Panoramic from* *Post 2* *at 00:18-00:21. Bottom: Satellite image depicting location at 12.9322, 23.4958 (Credit: Google / Airbus). Annotations and redactions by Sudanese Archive.*

What Happened and When?

Date and time of incident

All available sources agree the incident took place on 27th April 2026, although since all examinable video content appears to have been filmed in the morning, it is possible the event occurred late on 26th April 2026 and was documented early on the 27th.

Some posts claimed the event occurred at about 6 am, however Sudanese Archive was not able to assess this without further information.

Post 2 is the earliest verifiable post depicting the aftermath of the event and was published at 08:31 local time. It depicts significant local interest in the crater, with large numbers of people gathered around it. The position of the Sun is relatively low in the sky to the east, however its exact position could not be ascertained due to glare while the camera is pointed towards it. As such the video must have been filmed between just after dawn, which was at approximately 06:09; and 08:31 on 27th April 2026.

Crater or munition remnants

Posts made to social media and statements by NGOs claimed that this event was the result of an air strike of some kind, whether that be an "aerial bombing” or a “drone strike”. The information available in open sources does appear to be consistent with an air strike of some form, including contemporary reports and the presence of a large, singular crater.

A single crater was identified in examinable visual content. This crater is located on the edge of a road, and appears to be approximately 3-5 meters in diameter. A measurement of the crater using the high-resolution satellite imagery was also consistent with this assessment.

Picture 14 r.jpg — *Composite panorama of crater seen in* *Post 2* *at 00:00-00:04. Composite and redactions made by Sudanese Archive.*

Picture 15.jpg — *Location of crater (Credit: Google/Airbus). Annotation by Sudanese Archive.*

Whilst the size of craters is significantly affected by the type of ground, as well as the nature of the detonation itself, a crater of this size does indicate a relatively large munition was used. Using the ARES Crater Analysis Tool, where the surface type is alluvium, and the radius of the crater is 2 meters, the munition which created the crater would be roughly equivalent to 118 kg of TNT. Whilst this is only a very rough assessment, it does give an idea about the size of the munition used.

A munition of this size would require a large platform to deploy it, such as a drone or aircraft. Conventional artillery available to the armed groups in Sudan would be very unlikely to result in a crater of this size. While a car bomb could cause such a crater, there is no indication of a car body and no claims that this was a car bomb. As such, an air strike of some form is the most likely cause of this event.

Both the RSF and SAF employ UAV systems which would be able to deploy a payload of this size. These include the Wing Loon II, FH-95 and possibly the Sunflower 200 as used by the RSF; and the Bayraktar TB2, and possibly the Mohajer-6 and Zajil 3 as used by the SAF.

No munition remnants were identified in any open source imagery, meaning attribution based on weapon system is not possible for this incident.

Damage caused

The examinable content depicts several buildings which appear to have been destroyed during the event. The impact point, indicated by the crater, is on the edge of a road. The buildings apparently damaged during this event are in the vicinity of this crater.

Picture 16.jpg — *Satellite image annotated with crater and areas of damage (Credit: Google/Airbus). Annotations by Sudanese Archive.*

Nothing seen in the examinable content indicates that these buildings were used for military purposes. This is consistent with reports from the NGO “Committee for Justice” and the “Emergency Lawyers Group”, which stated that the strike damaged infrastructure and homes.

Casualties

Darfur 24 claimed that 15 people had been wounded, and noted that several were in a serious condition. Both the Emergency Lawyers Group and the Committee for Justice stated that six people were killed and “dozens” were wounded.

No casualties can be seen in any of the examinable content.

A handwritten list of 15 people’s names that may be a casualty list was included in some social media posts. Without further information it is not possible to assess how accurate this list is.

Responses

Neither the SAF nor RSF appear to have made official comments regarding this strike at the time of drafting. However the Central Darfur State Civil Administration, which appears to be aligned with the RSF, stated that “the Islamic Movement’s [SAF] drone targeted displaced people in the Hamidiya camp, leaving a number of martyrs and wounded”.

Some statements online from users who appear to support the SAF, such as “Bassiouni Kamel Bassiouni Mohamed” claim that leaders and combat vehicles were hit in this strike, however these accounts were not official and the accuracy of their claims could not be ascertained. Examinable content does not depict any vehicles at the scene of the event.

Youssef Ezzat Al-Mahari, a former RSF advisor, claimed on 27th April 2026 that SAF forces had targeted “our forces” in Zalingi, although as he did not specify the exact location, this could refer to a separate strike.

Conclusion

Based on a review of available open source information, on the morning of 27th April 2026, what appears to have been an air strike of some form, likely carried out by a drone, impacted al Hamidiyah refugee camp just outside of Zalingi. Reports from NGOs and news organisations indicate that several people were killed and multiple other people were wounded. Visual information also shows multiple destroyed or damaged buildings at the impact location, very likely as a result of this strike. No official statements were made claiming this attack by the parties to the conflict.

[1]

[2] This could not be published due to licensing restrictions.

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Strike on Al-Hamidiya Internally Displaced Persons Camp

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INVESTIGATIONS