Drone Strike Kills Two Children at Mosque in Central Sudan

A drone attack on a mosque in central Sudan has resulted in two child fatalities and 13 injuries, according to reports from the Sudan Doctors Network. The incident occurred at dawn on Wednesday in North Kordofan State, where the Sheikh Ahmed al-Badawi Mosque was targeted by a drone strike.

The Sudan Doctors Network attributed the attack to the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a paramilitary group involved in a three-year conflict with the Sudanese Armed Forces. The children were reportedly studying at the mosque when the building was hit.

The doctors’ association condemned the attack, stating that it constitutes a “grave assault on places of worship” and a violation of international humanitarian law. They also noted that the RSF has previously targeted other religious buildings for attack.

The Sudan Doctors Network called on the international community, the United Nations, and human rights organizations to take action to pressure for an end to targeting civilians and ensure their protection. The UN separately reported that recent drone attacks have been reported in various parts of Sudan’s South Kordofan, North Kordofan, and West Kordofan states.

A World Food Programme (WFP) warehouse was also hit by a suspected rocket attack on Tuesday night, according to the UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric. The UN has documented over 90 civilian deaths and 142 injuries caused by drone strikes between January and February 6, which were carried out by the RSF and Sudanese Armed Forces.

The UN has warned that the conflict is expanding from western Darfur into the Kordofan region.

Source: Al Jazeera