At least 17 people, most of them schoolgirls, were killed when an explosive-laden drone struck a secondary school and a health care centre in southern Sudan on Wednesday, according to hospital officials and medical groups.
The attack took place in the village of Shukeiri in White Nile State. Dr. Musa al-Majeri, director of Douiem Hospital, said at least 10 others were injured in the strike, which also damaged nearby civilian facilities.
Al-Majeri said three girls suffered severe injuries. Two underwent surgery at the hospital, while another was transferred to the capital, Khartoum, for further treatment.
The attack was first reported by the Sudan Doctors Network, which said the victims included two teachers and a health care worker. The group said there was no military presence in the village at the time of the strike.
Medical officials blamed the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) for the attack. The RSF did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
“This horrific crime represents a continuation of the violations committed by the RSF in the White Nile,” said Dr. Razan Al-Mahdi, a spokesperson for the medical network. She said paramilitary forces had targeted several civilian sites in recent days, including a student dormitory and a power station.
The strike is the latest deadly incident in Sudan’s ongoing conflict, which erupted in April 2023 after a power struggle between the national army and the Rapid Support Forces escalated into open warfare in Khartoum and other regions.
The war has since killed more than 40,000 people, according to estimates from the United Nations, though aid organizations believe the real death toll could be significantly higher.
Much of the fighting has centred in the Kordofan region, where drone attacks and heavy clashes have become frequent.
The conflict has been marked by severe human rights abuses, including mass killings and sexual violence. Investigators at the International Criminal Court are examining alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity linked to the fighting.
Among the deadliest recent incidents was an assault by RSF forces and allied Janjaweed fighters on the Darfur city of El Fasher in October. Experts commissioned by the United Nations said the attack bore “hallmarks of genocide,” with at least 6,000 people reportedly killed within three days, according to the U.N.’s human rights office.
