Drone Attack in South Kordofan State, Sudan (December 2025)

The drone strike carried out in the town of Kalogi, in South Kordofan state, Sudan, in December 2025, has been recorded as a large-scale attack wave resulting in a high number of civilian deaths, including children.

Background and Conflict Context

Regional Security Context

South Kordofan state has become one of the areas where clashes between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have intensified. The weakening of local governance structures, communication disruptions, and the direct inclusion of civilian settlements within conflict zones have created key factors that amplify the impact of aerial attacks. The region’s rural terrain has also hindered data collection efforts following the attack.

Evolution of Conflicts Between the RSF and the Sudanese Armed Forces

Since 2023, armed clashes have become increasingly frequent across the country and have spread to the Kordofan region. The RSF has been reported to conduct drone and artillery attacks on various settlements. The Sudanese Armed Forces have confirmed that some RSF drones targeted civilian facilities and stated that they had downed several such drones in the Blue Nile region. The Kalogi attack is one example of this cycle of conflict resulting in heavy civilian losses.

Course of the Attack

Three-Stage Drone Attack

The attack consisted of three separate drone strikes. The first targeted a kindergarten, the second targeted a hospital building, and the third targeted an area where civilians had gathered to assist the wounded. It has been reported that this three-stage pattern caused secondary and tertiary casualties among civilians attempting to flee the initial strikes or to aid the injured.

Civilian Casualties Among Children

Child fatalities have emerged as a central feature of the attack according to multiple sources. Some reports indicate that more than 30 children were killed, while other estimates place the total death toll between 80 and 114. It has been stated that the majority of the children were inside the kindergarten building. International organizations have noted that discrepancies in casualty figures stem from disrupted information flows in the region.

Targeting of Health Facilities

The direct targeting of the hospital building significantly undermined the region’s medical response capacity. Delays occurred in transporting the wounded, and healthcare workers in surrounding areas faced difficulties reaching the site. The destruction of medical facilities has weakened emergency response mechanisms.

Casualties, Injured, and Humanitarian Impact

Varying Reports on Death Toll

Local authorities initially reported a death toll of approximately 79 to 80 immediately after the incident. Subsequent assessments following field investigations revealed that the number had exceeded 100. Some institutions estimate the death toll reached 114. The increase in fatalities has been linked to the third strike, which targeted civilians attempting to assist the wounded.

Condition of the Injured and Evacuation Efforts

Reduced hospital capacity and damaged logistical infrastructure have complicated the evacuation of the injured to other areas. Delays in search and rescue operations due to restricted access have contributed to the rising death toll.

Deepening Humanitarian Crisis in the Region

Following the attack, numerous families were displaced, and the inaccessibility of schools and health facilities disrupted essential social services. Reports indicate that humanitarian conditions in South Kordofan were already precarious, and the attack further worsened the situation. International organizations have emphasized the need for a special investigation due to the high concentration of child fatalities.

International and Regional Reactions

Arab League Statement

The Arab League condemned the attack and stated that targeting civilian settlements constitutes a violation of international humanitarian law. The statement highlighted that attacks resulting in the deaths of children have harmed regional stability.

Sudanese Armed Forces’ Countermeasures in Blue Nile Region

The Sudanese Armed Forces announced that during the same week, they intercepted a drone attributed to the RSF in Blue Nile state. This incident demonstrates that the RSF has employed similar unmanned aerial vehicles not only in Kordofan but also in southeastern regions.