Unmanned Attack on United Nations Facility in Conflict-Ravaged Sudan Claims Six Peacekeepers

A drone strike hit a United Nations logistics base in war-torn Sudan on Saturday, resulting in the demise of six peacekeepers, according to a declaration.

The strike impacted a peacekeeping facility in the city of Kadugli, situated in the central region of Kordofan.

Eight additional soldiers were injured in the strike. All the victims are citizens of Bangladesh, serving in the UN peacekeeping contingent in Abyei.

“Attacks against UN personnel could amount to international crimes under international law,” officials stated, calling for those responsible for the “unacceptable” attack to be brought to justice.

Army Points Finger at Paramilitary Faction

The Sudanese military attributed the attack on the RSF fighters, a prominent militia that has been at war with the government troops for dominance over the country for more than two years.

The strike “clearly reveals the rebellious nature of the paramilitary group and its supporters,” the military said in a communication.

Background of the Disputed Area

The resource-abundant Abyei is a claimed area between Sudan and its southern neighbor, and the UN mission has been deployed there since 2011, when the south became independent from Sudan.

Appeals for an swift truce in Sudan were also expressed to allow “a comprehensive, all-encompassing and nationally led dialogue” to address the conflict.

Country Plunged into Conflict Since 2023

Sudan was plunged into chaos in April 2023 when a political rivalry between the army and the RSF escalated into open fighting in the capital, Khartoum and elsewhere the country.

• The conflict has claimed more than 40,000 people, a toll rights groups believe a major underestimate.
• Recent combat has focused on Kordofan, particularly since the RSF captured El Fasher.
• The conflict has destroyed urban areas and has been marked by grave abuses, like widespread sexual violence and killings based on ethnicity.
• These acts have been labeled international crimes by global observers.
• The conflict has also created the world’s worst humanitarian crisis and pushed parts of the country into extreme hunger.