Aerial Strike on UN Facility in War-Torn Sudan Kills Six Peacekeepers
A drone strike targeted a UN logistics base in conflict-ridden Sudan on Saturday, causing the demise of six UN soldiers, per a announcement.
The strike targeted a peacekeeping outpost in the city of Kadugli, found in the central region of Kordofan.
Eight other peacekeepers were injured in the attack. All the victims are Bangladeshi nationals, part of the UN peacekeeping contingent in Abyei.
“Attacks targeting United Nations personnel may constitute war crimes under international law,” the statement said, urging those responsible for the “unjustifiable” strike to be held accountable.
Army Blames Fighter Group
The Sudanese military assigned responsibility for the strike on the RSF fighters, a notorious armed faction that has been fighting with the military for power in the country for more than two years.
The strike “shows the rebellious approach of the rebel militia and those behind it,” the military said in a statement.
Context of the Disputed Region
The resource-abundant Abyei is a contested region between Sudan and South Sudan, and the peacekeeping force 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, inclusive and nationally led peace process” to settle the war.
Country Plunged into Chaos Since 2023
Sudan was thrown into chaos in April 2023 when a political rivalry between the military and the RSF turned into direct clashes in the national capital and across the country.
- The conflict has claimed tens of thousands, a number human rights organizations believe a major underestimate.
- Recent hostilities has focused on Kordofan, especially since fighters took control of El Fasher.
- The conflict has wrecked urban areas and has been marked by atrocities, like widespread sexual violence and ethnic slaughter.
- These acts have been labeled international crimes by the UN and rights groups.
- The conflict has also precipitated the planet's most severe humanitarian crisis and pushed parts of the country into starvation.
