At least 116 people, including 46 children, were killed in a deadly RSF attack on a pre-school and several civilian areas in Sudan’s Kalogi town. Local officials and medical workers confirmed the heavy loss of life, describing it as one of the worst incidents in the ongoing civil war.
The conflict between the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) has intensified in recent months. The latest RSF attack involved the use of suicide drones that struck a kindergarten and other civilian locations. According to the Sudan Doctors Network, even paramedics who rushed to help the injured were hit in a second strike, making rescue work extremely difficult.
Two military officials linked with the SAF said the pre-school was the first target. After the initial explosion, civilians gathered to help, but they were also attacked. A nearby hospital and a government building were damaged as well.
Communication in the region remains unstable, and officials warn the death toll may rise as more information comes in.
Strong international response
The global community reacted with shock. UNICEF’s representative in Sudan, Sheldon Yett, called the incident “a horrific violation of children’s rights.” The Sudan Doctors Network also condemned the strike, describing it as a serious breach of international humanitarian law.
The RSF attack highlights the growing violence in South Kordofan, a region that has become strategically important for both warring sides. The fall of el-Fasher has increased pressure on Kordofan, which connects RSF-controlled Darfur to areas still held by the government. Control of key cities like el-Obeid could give the RSF a direct route to Khartoum.
Sudan’s civil war has entered its third year. The conflict has killed tens of thousands and displaced more than nine million people. Around 30 million citizens now depend on humanitarian aid for survival. The UN has recorded at least 269 civilian deaths in Kordofan since late October due to airstrikes, shelling, and targeted attacks.
In other news read more about: A City Turned Silent: The Shocking Truth Behind Sudan’s 1,500 Deaths
UN human rights chief Volker Turk warned that Kordofan may face mass atrocities similar to those seen in Darfur’s el-Fasher. He urged the world to act quickly, saying it is “shocking to see history repeating itself.”
