RSF sources report killing dozens, mostly children, in war-torn Sudan’s Kalogi

The number of fatalities from attacks by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on a kindergarten and other locations in Kalogi, South Kordofan, has climbed to around 47, predominantly children, with roughly 50 more injured, according to two sources within the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) aligned with the government.

Officials reported that the RSF struck the kindergarten on Thursday and later returned to target civilians who had gathered to help the victims. Bombing also hit the citys hospital and a government facility. The death toll may rise further due to the critical condition of some of the wounded.

Earlier, the Sudan Doctors Network had reported at least nine deaths, including four children and two women, in targeted attacks using suicide drones by the RSF and its ally, the Sudan Peoples Liberation MovementNorth (al-Hilou), hitting the kindergarten and other civilian sites. The group condemned the assaults as severe breaches of international humanitarian law and continued assaults on civilians and key infrastructure.

This incident represents the latest in a series of RSF atrocities during the ongoing civil war between the SAF and the paramilitary RSF, now entering its third year. The SAF has also faced accusations of abuses in the conflict.

Warnings of Repeated Atrocities

The United Nations has warned that Kordofan could experience another wave of mass atrocities as violent clashes between armed forces intensify, creating a potential humanitarian disaster. UN human rights chief Volker Turk remarked that history seems to be repeating itself in Kordofan, echoing the deadly events in el-Fasher, North Darfur, last month, when international warnings went largely unheeded before widespread killings occurred.

Since the RSF took control of Bara in North Kordofan in late October, the UN has recorded at least 269 civilian deaths from aerial attacks, artillery, and summary executions. Communication blackouts in the region suggest that the actual death toll may be much higher, with reports of revenge attacks, arbitrary detentions, sexual violence, and forced child recruitment emerging.

Strategic Shifts in Kordofan

The RSF claimed control of Babnusa in West Kordofan earlier this week, although the army denied the city had fallen. Following el-Fashers capture, attention has turned to Kordofan, a strategically vital area linking RSF-controlled Darfur in the west with government-held territories in the east and north. Control over cities like el-Obeid would provide the RSF with a direct route to Khartoum, previously recaptured by government forces.

Prior to el-Fashers fall in November, UN alerts warned of potential mass atrocities, which largely went unheeded. Following the citys capture, mass killings were reported, with satellite images showing corpses, leading UN chief Antonio Guterres to label it a crime scene. Amnesty International has called for war crimes investigations, and the European Union imposed sanctions on RSF deputy Abdelrahim Dagalo, brother of the groups leader, Mohamed Hamdan Hemedti Dagalo.

Author's Commentary: Rising Civilian Toll in South Kordofan

The recent attacks by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on Kalogi, South Kordofan, mark a grim escalation in the ongoing conflict. Reports indicate at least 47 fatalities, predominantly children, with around 50 more injured. The targeting of a kindergarten and subsequent attacks on civilians who came to assist reflect a deliberate strategy of terror against non-combatants.

The assaults on essential infrastructure, including the local hospital and government facilities, compound the humanitarian crisis. The death toll is expected to rise, as many of the injured remain in critical condition. Earlier reports had significantly underestimated casualties, highlighting the challenge of obtaining accurate information amid communication blackouts.

This incident is part of a broader pattern of RSF operations in Kordofan, a region of strategic significance linking RSF-controlled Darfur with government-held areas. The UN has warned of repeated atrocities, echoing recent events in North Darfur. The potential for further mass civilian casualties remains high unless urgent international action is taken.

The RSF's continued use of aerial attacks, artillery, and targeted killings, combined with reports of revenge attacks, arbitrary detention, and forced child recruitment, indicates systematic violations of international humanitarian law. The international community, including the UN and Amnesty International, has called for investigations and accountability, emphasizing that impunity risks prolonging the cycle of violence.

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• RSF kills dozens, mostly children, in war-torn Sudan’s Kalogi: SAF sources