Khartoum: A devastating wave of violence has struck Sudan’s North Kordofan State, where over 450 civilians, including 35 children and two pregnant women, were reportedly killed in brutal attacks on villages near Bara over the weekend. Dozens more have been injured, while many remain missing amid the chaos.
The human rights group Emergency Lawyers has identified the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a powerful paramilitary faction, as responsible for the latest atrocities. The RSF has been engaged in an escalating civil conflict with the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) since April 2023, with North Kordofan increasingly caught in the crossfire.
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) condemned the massacre in a statement released by Executive Director Catherine Russell on July 16. “This is a horrifying escalation of the ongoing conflict,” she stated, calling the attacks a blatant disregard for international law and the sanctity of human life. “Children must never be targets,” she added, urging independent investigations and accountability for the perpetrators.
The region of North Kordofan has seen mounting instability in recent months, marked by a rise in civilian deaths, displacement, and barriers to humanitarian aid. According to UNICEF, 6% of all documented violations against children in Sudan in 2024 occurred in this region alone. These violations span killings, maimings, abductions, and sexual violence all of which have intensified in recent weeks.
The attack near Bara represents one of the most severe civilian tragedies in the region since the conflict began. UNICEF described the growing toll on children as “unconscionable,” urging all warring parties to cease violence immediately and prioritize civilian safety.
As Sudan’s humanitarian crisis deepens, global concern continues to grow over the unchecked brutality inflicted on vulnerable communities, especially children, in the heart of North Kordofan.