Drone Attack on United Nations Facility in Conflict-Ravaged Sudan Claims 6 UN Personnel

A aerial bombardment struck a UN logistics base in war-torn Sudan on Saturday, causing the loss of six UN soldiers, as stated by a announcement.

The incident targeted a UN facility in the city of Kadugli, situated in the central region of Kordofan.

8 other personnel were injured in the attack. Each of the those affected are Bangladeshi nationals, deployed with the UN interim security force for Abyei (Unisfa).

“Attacks against United Nations personnel could be international crimes under international law,” it was declared, calling for the culprits for the “inexcusable” strike to be brought to justice.

Military Blames Fighter Faction

The Sudanese military blamed the incident on the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a well-known armed faction that has been engaged in conflict with the government troops for dominance over the country for over 24 months.

The attack “clearly reveals the subversive approach of the rebel militia and those behind it,” the army said in a release.

Background of the Disputed Area

The resource-abundant Abyei is a contested territory between Sudan and South Sudan, and the United Nations contingent has been deployed there since 2011, when South Sudan gained its independence from Sudan.

Calls for an immediate ceasefire in Sudan were also expressed to allow “a comprehensive, all-encompassing and nationally led peace process” to settle the conflict.

Country Plunged into Chaos Since 2023

Sudan was plunged into chaos in April 2023 when a political rivalry between the military and the RSF escalated into direct clashes in the capital, Khartoum and other parts the country.

• The conflict has killed over 40,000 lives, a figure advocates believe a significant undercount.
• Recent fighting has centred on Kordofan, notably since paramilitary forces seized El Fasher.
• The war has wrecked urban areas and has been noted for horrors, such as systematic rape and ethnically motivated killings.
• These actions have been called war crimes by international bodies.
• The war has also precipitated the planet's most severe humanitarian emergency and pushed parts of the country into starvation.