The facts

  1. MSF dated the market attack to around 20:00 local time on 26 October and attributed it to the Sudanese Armed Forces. It also reported a second strike on a civilian neighbourhood. The aid organisation's account is attributed, rather than a final independent determination of responsibility. [1]

  2. MSF's Nyala Teaching Hospital figures cover bodies received and patients seen there. It said 21 of the 36 bodies were in civilian clothing; clothing alone does not establish every victim's civilian or combatant status. [1]

  3. AP's 28 October reporting quoted witnesses who described RSF fighters and civilian food vendors at the market. Emergency Lawyers reported more than 100 deaths and 113 wounded; Sudan Doctors Network gave a lower count. AP said it could not independently verify the totals. [2]

  4. AP also reported an army-aligned forces spokesperson's claim that the attack targeted militia recruits. The casualty claims from the different groups are not a reconciled count and must not be added together. [2]

Relevant context

Nyala is under the control of the Rapid Support Forces, which has been fighting Sudan's army since 2023. [3]

Still unconfirmed

  • The final casualty total, full victim identities, civilian/combatant breakdown and independently established responsibility remain unresolved. Hospital admissions are not a complete count of all casualties.

Sources

References support the numbered facts above. Source checks: 28 Oct 2026, 22:03 UTC.

  1. Sudan: At least 36 people killed and 150 injured in Sudanese Armed Forces drone strike on market in Nyala

    Médecins Sans Frontières, South Asia · Primary source · 28 Oct 2026

    Primary medical organisation's account. The regional page is dated 28 October but retains the wording 'yesterday 26 October'; the explicit 26 October event date is corroborated by AP. Its figures are hospital observations, not an independently verified total for the whole attack.

  2. Strike on Darfur market killed civilians selling food to fighters, witnesses say

    The Associated Press, via ABC News · Reporting · 28 Oct 2026

    AP reporting by Yassir Abdalla and Fatma Khaled includes witness interviews and differing claims. ABC is the host of this AP report, not another independent reporting source.

  3. Sudanese rights group says more than 100 people killed in Sudanese army drone attack on busy market

    The Associated Press · Reporting · 28 Oct 2026

    Same news agency as source 2, independently owned from MSF. Used for territorial-control context, not as an additional independent casualty count.

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