At least 40 people were killed on Sunday when a drone strike hit a funeral gathering in Al-Luweib village, near El-Obeid in Sudan’s North Kordofan state, local officials said.

Authorities blamed the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) for the deadly attack, though the group has not yet commented on the incident.

The strike marks a new escalation in the ongoing conflict between the RSF and Sudan’s armed forces, which has devastated several regions including Kordofan and Darfur. The United Nations has documented widespread atrocities, including mass killings, famine, and potential war crimes.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres described the situation as “spiralling out of control,” urging both warring factions to agree to an immediate ceasefire and resume peace talks.

The war, which erupted in April 2023 following a power struggle between Sudan’s military and the RSF, has claimed more than 150,000 lives and displaced over 12 million people, according to UN estimates.

Humanitarian agencies warn that worsening violence, food shortages, and disease outbreaks are pushing millions of civilians to the brink of catastrophe, with aid efforts severely hampered by insecurity and access restrictions.