Drone strike kills five at university dormitory in Sudan’s El Obeid, medics say
October 1, 2026 (EL OBEID) – A drone strike carried out by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces killed five civilians and wounded 47 others on Thursday at a university dormitory in Sudan’s North Kordofan state, a local medical group said.
The strike hit student housing belonging to the University of Kordofan in the state capital, El Obeid, according to initial casualty figures released by the non-governmental Sudanese Doctors Network.
The RSF did not immediately comment on the strike. The paramilitary group typically denies targeting civilians, though state authorities and international rights groups have repeatedly accused it of doing so.
The Sudanese Doctors Network condemned the attack in the strongest terms, calling it part of an alarming escalation against service and civilian infrastructure that persists amid what it described as international silence. The group stressed that targeting educational facilities and student accommodation constitutes a grave violation of international humanitarian law.
The medical group called on the United Nations and international humanitarian and rights organizations to urgently support medical relief for the wounded and to hold those responsible accountable.
El Obeid has faced repeated drone strikes for months, leaving scores dead and wounded while causing severe damage to civilian facilities. The attacks intensified between June and September, striking residential neighbourhoods, hospitals, schools, fuel and power stations, and displacement shelters.
The wider Kordofan region—spanning North, West, and South Kordofan states—has seen heavy clashes between the Sudanese army and the RSF since October 2025.
El Obeid serves as a vital strategic and transport hub linking the capital, Khartoum, to western Darfur. Continued fighting has severely compromised healthcare and education infrastructure across the city.
According to United Nations figures released on August 24, drone strikes alone killed at least 1,100 civilians across Sudan between January and June 2026.