Drone Attack on UN Facility in War-Torn Sudan Kills Six UN Personnel
A aerial bombardment targeted a UN logistics base in war-torn Sudan on Saturday, causing the demise of six peacekeeping personnel, as stated by a statement.
The strike targeted a peacekeeping logistics base in the city of Kadugli, situated in the mid-country region of Kordofan.
8 additional soldiers were hurt in the attack. All the victims are Bangladeshi nationals, deployed with the United Nations mission in Abyei.
“Assaults against UN personnel may constitute violations of international law under global statutes,” the statement said, urging those responsible for the “unjustifiable” strike to be held accountable.
Army Accuses Fighter Group
The Sudanese military attributed the attack on the RSF fighters, a prominent armed faction that has been engaged in conflict with the military for dominance over the country for over 24 months.
The attack “clearly reveals the subversive tactics of the rebel militia and its backers,” the military said in a release.
Context of the Contested Area
The oil-rich Abyei is a disputed territory between Sudan and South Sudan, and the UN mission has been operating there since 2011, when South Sudan became independent from Sudan.
Demands for an immediate ceasefire in Sudan were also expressed to allow “a comprehensive, inclusive and nationally led dialogue” to address the war.
Nation Plunged into Conflict Since 2023
Sudan was thrown into open war in April 2023 when a political rivalry between the military and the RSF escalated into open fighting in the capital, Khartoum and across the country.
- The war has claimed more than 40,000 people, a toll human rights organizations regard as a low estimate.
- Recent fighting has focused on Kordofan, especially since the RSF captured El Fasher.
- The war has devastated cities and has been characterized by horrors, like widespread sexual violence and ethnically motivated killings.
- These acts have been called crimes against humanity by the UN and rights groups.
- The war has also created the globe's most dire humanitarian emergency and forced parts of the country into extreme hunger.
