Drone Strikes by RSF Cause Heavy Damage to Kordofan University in El-Obeid

Sudan’s Kordofan University in El-Obeid was heavily damaged by drone strikes reportedly carried out by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces. No casualties have been reported. The Emergency Lawyers Association condemned the attack, calling it a violation of international law. The strike is part of the ongoing conflict between Sudan’s army and RSF, which has caused tens of thousands of deaths and displaced around 13 million people.

Sudan’s Kordofan University has reported that its campus in El-Obeid suffered significant damage after being struck by drones on Monday, which the university said were operated by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). According to a statement from the university’s media office, the attack specifically targeted buildings within the central campus complex, causing extensive damage to classrooms, administrative offices, and other infrastructure. The full extent of the damage is still being assessed, and no official information regarding casualties has been released as of now.
Local rights group Emergency Lawyers Association condemned the strike, holding the RSF responsible and characterizing it as part of an escalating pattern of attacks on civilian institutions in the ongoing conflict. The association emphasized that targeting educational facilities constitutes a violation of international humanitarian law and warned that such attacks severely undermine the right to education, disrupt academic activities, and jeopardize the futures of thousands of students who rely on these institutions for learning and development.
The strike comes amid Sudan’s ongoing conflict, which has pitted the national army against the RSF since April 2023. The fighting has caused tens of thousands of deaths and displaced approximately 13 million people, creating one of the world’s most severe humanitarian crises, according to reports from the United Nations. In addition to direct casualties and mass displacement, the war has severely disrupted essential services, including healthcare, education, and access to food and clean water.
Attacks on universities like Kordofan University highlight the broader humanitarian and social consequences of the conflict. Beyond the immediate physical destruction, the strikes threaten the long-term educational prospects of students, reduce the availability of qualified professionals for Sudan’s future, and further destabilize communities already struggling under the pressures of war. Observers warn that unless measures are taken to protect civilian infrastructure, attacks on educational institutions could become a recurring tactic in the conflict, deepening the country’s crisis and prolonging recovery efforts.
Authorities and international organizations are calling for increased protections for civilians and civilian infrastructure, including schools and universities, and for adherence to international humanitarian law. The Kordofan University attack underscores the urgent need for ceasefires, peace negotiations, and mechanisms to prevent further harm to Sudan’s vulnerable civilian population while efforts continue to address the humanitarian emergency in the country.