Drone Assault on UN Facility in Conflict-Ravaged Sudan Kills Six Peacekeepers
A unmanned attack hit a United Nations logistics base in conflict-ridden Sudan on Saturday, leading to the loss of six peacekeepers, as stated by a declaration.
The attack occurred at a peacekeeping logistics base in the city of Kadugli, located in the mid-country region of Kordofan.
Eight other peacekeepers were wounded in the assault. All the those affected are from Bangladesh, serving in the UN peacekeeping contingent in Abyei.
“Strikes aimed at UN peacekeepers could amount to international crimes under global statutes,” officials stated, urging the perpetrators for the “inexcusable” attack to be brought to justice.
Military Blames Fighter Faction
The Sudanese military assigned responsibility for the strike on the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a well-known militia that has been fighting with the government troops for control of the country for over 24 months.
The attack “shows the rebellious approach of the armed faction and its supporters,” the military said in a communication.
Context of the Contested Region
The oil-rich Abyei is a contested area between Sudan and its southern neighbor, and the UN mission has been operating there since 2011, when the south gained its independence from Sudan.
Appeals for an immediate ceasefire in Sudan were also expressed to allow “a broad, all-encompassing and Sudanese-owned peace process” to resolve the conflict.
Nation Engulfed in Chaos Since 2023
Sudan was engulfed in open war in April 2023 when a dispute for control between the army and the RSF escalated into open fighting in the city of Khartoum and across the country.
- The conflict has taken over 40,000 lives, a number rights groups believe a significant undercount.
- Recent combat has centred on Kordofan, particularly since the RSF seized El Fasher.
- The war has devastated urban areas and has been characterized by atrocities, like systematic rape and ethnically motivated killings.
- These actions have been labeled crimes against humanity by international bodies.
- The war has also caused the planet's most severe humanitarian emergency and pushed parts of the country into starvation.
