Unmanned Assault on UN Base in War-Torn Sudan Claims 6 UN Personnel

A unmanned attack hit a United Nations logistics base in war-torn Sudan on Saturday, leading to the loss of six peacekeepers, as stated by a announcement.

The incident targeted a peacekeeping outpost in the city of Kadugli, located in the mid-country region of Kordofan.

8 other peacekeepers were wounded in the strike. All the victims are from Bangladesh, deployed with the United Nations mission in Abyei.

“Assaults against United Nations peacekeepers could amount to violations of international law under global statutes,” officials stated, urging the perpetrators for the “unjustifiable” strike to be held accountable.

Army Blames Fighter Group

The national army blamed the attack on the paramilitary RSF group, a prominent armed faction that has been engaged in conflict with the army for dominance over the country for over 24 months.

The attack “demonstrates the destructive tactics of the rebel militia and its supporters,” the army said in a release.

Background of the Contested Region

The resource-abundant Abyei is a contested area between Sudan and South Sudan, and the peacekeeping force has been stationed there since 2011, when South Sudan became independent from Sudan.

Appeals for an swift truce in Sudan were also expressed to allow “a wide-ranging, inclusive and nationally led dialogue” to address the conflict.

Country Plunged into Conflict Since 2023

Sudan was plunged into chaos in April 2023 when a dispute for control between the army and the RSF turned into full-scale combat in the national capital and across the country.

• The conflict has killed tens of thousands, a toll rights groups consider a significant undercount.
• Recent hostilities has focused on Kordofan, notably since fighters took control of El Fasher.
• The war has wrecked cities and has been characterized by atrocities, like mass rape and ethnic slaughter.
• These actions have been described as international crimes by the UN and rights groups.
• The situation has also created the world’s worst humanitarian emergency and pushed parts of the country into starvation.