A drone attack on a kindergarten in central Sudan has resulted in the deaths of dozens of civilians, predominantly young children, drawing international condemnation and underscoring the catastrophic toll of the country's escalating civil war. The assault, which occurred last Thursday in the town of Kalogi, South Kordofan, killed at least 50 people, 33 of whom were children, according to medical sources.
The incident represents one of the single deadliest attacks on children since the conflict erupted in April 2023. The Sudan Doctors' Network, a medical organization operating within the country, reported that the facility was struck twice by missiles fired from unmanned aerial vehicles. Disturbingly, the group stated that civilians and medical personnel who rushed to the scene in the aftermath were subsequently targeted, hindering rescue efforts and compounding the tragedy.
Accusations for the atrocity have been swiftly exchanged between the warring factions. The Sudanese army and its aligned foreign ministry explicitly blamed the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) for carrying out the strike. The RSF, however, has vehemently denied any involvement. In a counter-allegation, the paramilitary group accused the national army of conducting a separate drone attack the following Friday on a market and fuel depot at the Adre border crossing with Chad, in the western Darfur region. The RSF claimed that crossing was a conduit for aid and commercial goods.
This devastating event unfolds within the broader context of a brutal power struggle between two former allies: the Sudanese Armed Forces, led by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and the RSF, commanded by General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo. Their fight for dominance has plunged the nation into chaos, displacing millions and creating one of the world's most severe humanitarian crises. Civilian infrastructure, including hospitals, markets, and now schools, has repeatedly been caught in the crossfire or directly targeted.
The United Nations children's agency, UNICEF, issued a stern rebuke. Spokesman Sheldon Yett emphasized the profound violation, stating, "Killing children in their school is a horrific violation of children's rights." He further implored all parties to the conflict, declaring, "Children should never pay the price of conflict." The attack has prompted renewed calls from aid organizations for an immediate cessation of hostilities and guaranteed safe corridors for humanitarian access, which has been systematically obstructed.
The Kalogi attack signifies a dangerous escalation, demonstrating a blatant disregard for international humanitarian law and the principles of distinguishing between combatants and civilians. The use of drone technology in such a densely populated civilian area points to a chilling precision in the violence. As diplomatic efforts to broker a ceasefire remain stalled, the international community faces mounting pressure to intervene. The future outlook for Sudan grows increasingly grim, with this tragedy serving as a harrowing indicator that the conflict's most vulnerable victims are being subjected to ever-greater levels of brutality. The war, now extending into its second year, shows no signs of abating, threatening to consign an entire generation to the scars of violence.