Unmanned Attack on United Nations Base in Conflict-Ravaged Sudan Kills Six Peacekeepers
A drone strike hit a United Nations facility in conflict-ridden Sudan on Saturday, leading to the loss of six UN soldiers, as stated by a announcement.
The attack impacted a peacekeeping outpost in the city of Kadugli, located in the mid-country region of Kordofan.
8 additional soldiers were injured in the strike. All the victims are citizens of Bangladesh, serving in the United Nations mission in Abyei.
“Strikes aimed at UN peacekeepers may constitute international crimes under international law,” it was declared, calling for the perpetrators for the “unacceptable” attack to be prosecuted.
Military Points Finger at Fighter Faction
The government forces assigned responsibility for the incident on the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a well-known militia that has been engaged in conflict with the government troops for dominance over the country for more than two years.
The strike “shows the destructive tactics of the paramilitary group and those behind it,” the military said in a communication.
Background of the Contested Region
The resource-abundant Abyei is a disputed territory between Sudan and its southern neighbor, and the United Nations contingent has been stationed there since 2011, when South Sudan gained its independence from Sudan.
Appeals for an immediate ceasefire in Sudan were also made to allow “a wide-ranging, inclusive and nationally led dialogue” to resolve the fighting.
Country Plunged into Chaos Since 2023
Sudan was plunged into 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 elsewhere the country.
- The fighting has taken over 40,000 lives, a number advocates consider a low estimate.
- Recent combat has been concentrated in Kordofan, especially since fighters seized El Fasher.
- The war has devastated urban areas and has been noted for atrocities, including widespread sexual violence and ethnically motivated killings.
- These crimes have been labeled war crimes by the UN and rights groups.
- The conflict has also created the globe's most dire humanitarian emergency and pushed parts of the country into famine.
