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

A drone strike struck a UN facility in conflict-ridden Sudan on Saturday, causing the demise of six UN soldiers, according to a announcement.

The strike impacted a UN facility in the city of Kadugli, located in the central region of Kordofan.

8 other personnel were wounded in the assault. Each of the victims are citizens of Bangladesh, serving in the UN peacekeeping contingent in Abyei.

“Attacks aimed at UN personnel could amount to violations of international law under international law,” it was declared, calling for those responsible for the “inexcusable” attack to be prosecuted.

Military Blames Paramilitary Group

The Sudanese military blamed the incident on the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a well-known paramilitary group that has been at war with the military for dominance over the country for more than two years.

The attack “demonstrates the rebellious nature of the armed faction and its backers,” the military said in a statement.

Background of the Disputed Region

The resource-abundant Abyei is a disputed region 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.

Calls for an immediate ceasefire in Sudan were also issued to allow “a wide-ranging, all-encompassing and locally driven dialogue” to settle the conflict.

Country Engulfed in Conflict Since 2023

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

• The conflict has claimed tens of thousands, a number advocates regard as a significant undercount.
• Recent combat has been concentrated in Kordofan, especially since paramilitary forces seized El Fasher.
• The crisis has destroyed cities and has been characterized by atrocities, such as systematic rape and killings based on ethnicity.
• These actions have been described as war crimes by global observers.
• The war has also caused the world’s worst humanitarian disaster and pushed parts of the country into extreme hunger.