Drone Strike Hits Sudan School as UN Urges Female Diplomacy

A drone strike hit an empty fuel tanker parked near a school in El Obeid, Sudan, on Tuesday, injuring students. The attack occurred as the United Nations warned of an imminent assault on the city by the Rapid Support Forces, who have been engaged in conflict with the Sudanese Armed Forces since April 2023. To prepare for the escalation, the World Health Organization pre-positioned medical supplies to treat more than 25,000 people.

Amidst these escalating conflicts, UN officials and Kyrgyzstan's Ambassador to the UN marked the International Day of Women in Diplomacy by emphasizing the necessity of female representation in global decision-making. They argued that including women's perspectives is essential for making the world safer when determining outcomes of war and peace. Aida Kasymalieva, who will be the first woman from Central Asia to serve on the UN Security Council starting in January 2027, highlighted that gender-inclusive diplomacy provides critical talent and experience to the negotiating table.