Deadly Drone Strike Hits Sudan Kindergarten, Killing 33 Children Amidst Escalating Civil War & Retaliation Claims

Sudan's Civil War Escalates with Deadly Kindergarten Attack in Kalogi

A brutal drone attack in the Sudanese town of Kalogi, located in the South Kordofan region, has resulted in a devastating loss of life, with reports indicating at least 50 fatalities, including a horrific toll of 33 children. The strike, which allegedly targeted a kindergarten, underscores the escalating barbarity of Sudan's ongoing civil conflict.

Accusations and Denials Amidst Civilian Casualties

According to a medical organization, the Sudan Doctors' Network, and the Sudanese army, the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) are responsible for Thursday's lethal assault. The army's foreign ministry further claimed the kindergarten was hit by two drone-launched missiles, and that subsequent attacks targeted civilians and medics rushing to aid the school. The RSF has not yet issued a public response to these grave accusations.

However, the RSF has, in turn, accused the army of perpetrating a drone attack on Friday in the Darfur region, targeting a market near a fuel depot at the Adre border crossing with Chad. This area, the RSF states, is crucial for the delivery of humanitarian aid and commercial supplies. The Sudan War Monitor, a group dedicated to tracking the conflict, reported that this incident also caused civilian casualties and significant market damage. The military has not immediately commented on the Darfur allegations.

A Nation Ripped Apart: The Broader Conflict

Sudan has been engulfed in a brutal civil war since April 2023. The conflict erupted from a power struggle between the once-allied Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), plunging the nation into chaos and a severe humanitarian crisis.

The Kordofan region—comprising North, South, and West Kordofan, home to nearly eight million people—has become a critical frontline, situated strategically between the capital, Khartoum, and Darfur. Fighting in this region has intensified as the army endeavors to push towards Darfur, a vast western region already scarred by previous conflicts.

International Outcry for Children's Rights

Responding to the harrowing reports from Kalogi, Sheldon Yett, a spokesperson for the UN children's agency Unicef, condemned the attack unequivocally. Killing children in their school is a horrific violation of children's rights, Yett stated, emphasizing that Children should never pay the price of conflict. Unicef has urgently appealed to all warring parties to cease attacks immediately and ensure safe, unhindered access for humanitarian assistance to reach those desperately in need across Sudan.

Independent verification of these conflicting reports remains challenging due to the volatile security situation.