Drone Attack on United Nations Compound in War-Torn Sudan Claims 6 UN Personnel

A aerial bombardment targeted a UN facility in war-torn Sudan on Saturday, leading to the demise of six peacekeeping personnel, according to a statement.

The strike occurred at a UN logistics base in the city of Kadugli, situated in the central region of Kordofan.

8 other personnel were wounded in the assault. Each of the victims are from Bangladesh, part of the United Nations mission in Abyei.

“Strikes against United Nations peacekeepers could be war crimes under global statutes,” the statement said, demanding those responsible for the “unjustifiable” attack to be brought to justice.

Military Accuses Paramilitary Group

The national army blamed the strike on the RSF fighters, a notorious militia that has been fighting with the military for control of the country for over 24 months.

The strike “demonstrates the rebellious tactics of the armed faction and its backers,” the military said in a release.

Background of the Disputed Area

The resource-abundant Abyei is a disputed area between Sudan and South Sudan, and the United Nations contingent has been operating there since 2011, when the south gained its independence from Sudan.

Demands for an urgent halt to fighting in Sudan were also expressed to allow “a wide-ranging, all-encompassing and nationally led peace process” to settle the fighting.

Country Plunged into Chaos Since 2023

Sudan was thrown into widespread violence in April 2023 when a dispute for control between the military and the RSF turned into direct clashes in the city of Khartoum and across the country.

• The war has claimed more than 40,000 people, a figure advocates believe a significant undercount.
• Recent fighting has focused on Kordofan, particularly since the RSF took control of El Fasher.
• The war has devastated cities and has been noted for atrocities, like systematic rape and killings based on ethnicity.
• These actions have been described as war crimes by the UN and rights groups.
• The conflict has also created the world’s worst humanitarian emergency and forced parts of the country into extreme hunger.