Drone Attack on UN Facility in War-Torn Sudan Leaves 6 Peacekeepers
A aerial bombardment struck a UN compound in conflict-ridden Sudan on Saturday, resulting in the demise of six UN soldiers, per a announcement.
The attack targeted a peacekeeping outpost in the city of Kadugli, located in the mid-country region of Kordofan.
8 other peacekeepers were wounded in the strike. All the casualties are Bangladeshi nationals, serving in the UN peacekeeping contingent in Abyei.
“Assaults targeting United Nations peacekeepers could be international crimes under international law,” the statement said, calling for the culprits for the “unjustifiable” attack to be held accountable.
Military Blames Fighter Group
The government forces assigned responsibility for the strike on the RSF fighters, a notorious armed faction that has been at war with the military for control of the country for over 24 months.
The attack “demonstrates the destructive nature of the rebel militia and those behind it,” the army said in a statement.
Background of the Contested Region
The oil-rich Abyei is a disputed area between Sudan and its southern neighbor, and the United Nations contingent has been deployed there since 2011, when the south seceded from Sudan.
Demands for an urgent halt to fighting in Sudan were also issued to allow “a broad, inclusive and locally driven dialogue” to address the war.
Country Engulfed in Conflict Since 2023
Sudan was thrown into widespread violence in April 2023 when a power struggle between the army and the RSF turned into full-scale combat in the capital, Khartoum and other parts the country.
- The conflict has killed more than 40,000 people, a number advocates believe a low estimate.
- Recent combat has focused on Kordofan, especially since fighters took control of El Fasher.
- The conflict has devastated urban areas and has been characterized by grave abuses, like mass rape and ethnic slaughter.
- These actions have been called international crimes by the UN and rights groups.
- The conflict has also caused the world’s worst humanitarian emergency and driven parts of the country into famine.
