Key points
- Attack targets UN base in Kadugli, Sudan
- Bangladeshi peacekeepers part of UNISFA mission
- Sudanese army blames RSF for the assault
- UN calls for immediate ceasefire in Sudan
CAIRO, Egypt: A drone attack on a United Nations peacekeeping base in Sudan has killed six peacekeepers, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres confirmed. The attack, which took place on Saturday, targeted the peacekeeping logistics base in Kadugli, located in Sudan’s Kordofan region.
The peacekeepers, all Bangladeshi nationals serving with the UN Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA), were part of a joint mission tasked with protecting civilians in the conflict-ridden region.
In addition to the fatalities, eight other peacekeepers were wounded in the attack. Guterres condemned the assault as “horrific” and stated that such attacks on UN personnel could amount to war crimes under international law, reports Al Jazeera.
Affected families
The Sudanese army has blamed the attack on the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a paramilitary group involved in Sudan’s ongoing civil war. The army described the attack as indicative of the subversive tactics employed by the RSF. However, the RSF has not commented on the incident.
Bangladesh’s interim leader, Muhammad Yunus, expressed deep sorrow over the attack, stating that the government would support the affected families and requested the UN to provide necessary assistance to the wounded.
The incident comes amidst the ongoing conflict in Sudan, which has resulted in over 40,000 deaths since April 2023. The UN has called for an immediate ceasefire to facilitate a peaceful, Sudanese-led resolution to the crisis. The attack also follows the UN Security Council’s recent decision to extend the UNISFA mission for another year.
