Drone strikes in Sudan kill 17, mostly schoolgirls

At least 17 people were killed Wednesday when a drone strike hit a secondary school and health care center in Sudan’s White Nile province. Most of the victims were schoolgirls. Ten others were wounded in the village of Shukeiri, according to Dr. Musa al-Majeri, director of Douiem Hospital. The strike is blamed on the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The Sudan Doctors Network reported the attack, noting the deaths of two teachers and a health care worker, and stated there was no military presence in the village. Three girls sustained serious injuries, requiring surgery or evacuation to Khartoum. This attack is the latest in Sudan’s nearly three-year war, which began in April 2023 with a power struggle between the military and the RSF. The conflict has resulted in over 40,000 deaths, though aid groups believe the actual number is significantly higher. Recent atrocities, including those in el-Fasher in October, have been investigated for potential war crimes and crimes against humanity. The Kordofan region, where fighting is concentrated, connects RSF strongholds to army-controlled areas and is rich in resources. Both sides have faced accusations of war crimes throughout the conflict.