Drone Assault on UN Base in Conflict-Ravaged Sudan Claims 6 UN Personnel
A aerial bombardment targeted a United Nations facility in war-torn Sudan on Saturday, resulting in the deaths of six UN soldiers, as stated by a declaration.
The attack impacted a UN logistics base in the city of Kadugli, situated in the central region of Kordofan.
8 other peacekeepers were injured in the attack. Each of the victims are Bangladeshi nationals, part of the UN peacekeeping contingent in Abyei.
“Strikes aimed at United Nations personnel could be international crimes under international law,” it was declared, calling for the perpetrators for the “unjustifiable” attack to be held accountable.
Military Accuses Fighter Group
The government forces attributed the attack on the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a well-known armed faction that has been engaged in conflict with the military for control of the country for over 24 months.
The strike “shows the destructive tactics of the paramilitary group and its backers,” the army said in a statement.
Context of the Disputed Area
The resource-abundant Abyei is a contested territory between Sudan and South Sudan, and the UN mission has been stationed there since 2011, when the south gained its independence from Sudan.
Appeals for an immediate ceasefire in Sudan were also issued to allow “a broad, inclusive and Sudanese-owned dialogue” to resolve the conflict.
Nation Engulfed in Conflict Since 2023
Sudan was engulfed in open war in April 2023 when a dispute for control between the military and the RSF escalated into full-scale combat in the city of Khartoum and elsewhere the country.
- The fighting has claimed over 40,000 lives, a toll advocates regard as a low estimate.
- Recent hostilities has been concentrated in Kordofan, especially since paramilitary forces captured El Fasher.
- The conflict has devastated urban areas and has been characterized by atrocities, including systematic rape and killings based on ethnicity.
- These crimes have been labeled war crimes by the UN and rights groups.
- The war has also created the planet's most severe humanitarian emergency and driven parts of the country into starvation.
