Kenyan pilot killed in Sudan army airstrike

A Kenyan pilot was killed early Saturday when Sudanese military airstrikes targeted Nyala International Airport in South Darfur, Sudan. 

The attack, which took place at dawn, marks a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict between Sudan’s army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). 

Eyewitnesses told Sudan Tribune that a plane, suspected to be carrying military supplies for the RSF, landed at Nyala International Airport before taking off multiple times. After the final landing, the plane failed to take off, moments before the explosion.

Residents of Nyala heard at least three explosions followed the landing. “A plane landed and took off three times at Nyala airport, then landed a final time without taking off again,” eyewitnesses told Sudan Tribune.

The military’s bombardment reportedly hit multiple locations within the airport, including an airstrip previously used by the UN-African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID), and a nearby residential building.

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“The pilot was apparently operating a clandestine operation in Chad carrying soldiers fighting in Dafur region,” sources close to the pilot’s family said.

However, our efforts to reach the lawyer brother who works in Nairobi failed - all calls went unpicked.

Local sources reported casualties being moved from the airport to Nyala Teaching Hospital, some of whom were confirmed dead.

The Kenya civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) confirmed that no Kenyan aircraft is missing, an indication that the plane the Kenyan pilot was flying was not locally owned.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Government Spokesperson did not pick calls or respond to messages. 

Meanwhile, videos were circulated on social media showing smoke and flames rising from the airport.

Al Jazeera TV quoted a military official confirming that the Sudanese army had bombed  RSF weapons and fuel depots at the airport. 

The airstrikes come just three months after the RSF and allied militia groups held a controversial meeting in Nairobi, where they reportedly formed a parallel government.

This meeting exacerbated already tense relations between Sudan and Kenya. Sudan views Kenya’s involvement as an interference in its internal affairs. The Sudanese government has accused Kenya of supporting the RSF. 

In retaliation, Sudan has suspended all imports from Kenya, including tea, food, and pharmaceuticals. Sudan also recalled its ambassador to Nairobi and threatened further diplomatic and economic sanctions.

Sudanese officials have labeled Kenya a “rogue state,” accusing it of destabilizing the region and undermining efforts for peace in Sudan. 

Kenya has, however, defended itself, saying it’s committed to regional peace initiatives.

Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi has rejected Sudan’s claims, stressing that Kenya’s support was aimed at fostering dialogue, not backing the RSF’s cause.

“It is important to reiterate that no parallel government for Sudan was formed in Nairobi,” Mudavadi said. 

The situation at Nyala International Airport is further complicated by its dual use. While the airport was officially reopened in September 2024 after months of closure, it has reportedly been used by the RSF to smuggle gold from Sudan’s mineral-rich regions, evacuate wounded fighters, and facilitate the movement of RSF commanders. The Sudanese army has carried out several airstrikes on the airport since its reopening but paused their campaign following the RSF’s downing of a military aircraft in February 2025. 

Nyala, now serving as the administrative capital for a proposed parallel government by the RSF-controlled Sudan Founding Coalition, is set to become a focal point for further conflict.

Meanwhile, the top United Nations court yesterday threw out Sudan’s case against the United Arab Emirates over alleged complicity in genocide during the Sudanese civil war.

Sudan had taken the UAE to the International Court of Justice, saying its alleged support for the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) was contributing to a genocide -- accusations strongly denied by the Emiratis.

Additional reporting by AFP