UN Condemns Deadly Drone Strike on Peacekeepers in Sudan’s Kordofan. Kadugli, Sudan — The United Nations has strongly condemned a recent drone attack on its logistics base in the central region of Kordofan, resulting in the deaths and injuries of Bangladeshi peacekeepers serving in the UN Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA). This incident, which occurred on Saturday, is being characterized as an unjustifiable act that may constitute war crimes.
According to the UN’s Secretary-General António Guterres, the attack on UN peacekeepers is unacceptable and may violate international law.
In a statement, Guterres emphasized the obligation of all parties to the conflict to protect UN personnel and civilians, while also calling for accountability for those responsible.
The attack, which killed six peacekeepers and wounded eight others, targeted the UN facility in the war — torn region of Sudan.
All the victims were Bangladeshi nationals. Guterres called for an immediate ceasefire to enable a comprehensive and inclusive political process to resolve the ongoing conflict in Sudan.
The Sudanese military has attributed the attack to the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a paramilitary group engaged in a conflict with the Sudanese army for over two years.
The military released a video on social media showing the aftermath of the attack, with dense black smoke over the UN facility.
The conflict in Sudan, which escalated in April 2023, has resulted in over 40,000 deaths, according to rights groups, with the situation in Kordofan being particularly volatile.
The war has also led to widespread atrocities, including mass rape and ethnically motivated killings, amounting to war crimes and crimes against humanity, according to the UN and rights groups.
Guterres also called for an immediate ceasefire in Sudan to facilitate a political process owned by the Sudanese people.
The situation in Sudan remains critical, with the country facing one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises and parts of the nation on the brink of famine. Further details are expected as the investigation into the drone attack continues.
