Unmanned Attack on UN Facility in Conflict-Ravaged Sudan Leaves 6 Peacekeepers
A aerial bombardment hit a United Nations logistics base in conflict-ridden Sudan on Saturday, resulting in the loss of six peacekeepers, according to a announcement.
The incident impacted a UN outpost in the city of Kadugli, located in the central region of Kordofan.
8 other personnel were wounded in the attack. All the casualties are Bangladeshi nationals, part of the UN interim security force for Abyei (Unisfa).
“Assaults against UN personnel could amount to international crimes under global statutes,” officials stated, urging the perpetrators for the “unacceptable” attack to be prosecuted.
Army Accuses Paramilitary Faction
The government forces blamed the attack on the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a notorious armed faction that has been at war with the army for control of the country for since April 2023.
The attack “clearly reveals the destructive tactics of the paramilitary group and its backers,” the military said in a statement.
Context of the Contested Region
The resource-abundant Abyei is a disputed region between Sudan and South Sudan, and the peacekeeping force has been operating there since 2011, when the south seceded from Sudan.
Appeals for an swift truce in Sudan were also issued to allow “a comprehensive, inclusive and Sudanese-owned dialogue” to address the conflict.
Nation Engulfed in Chaos Since 2023
Sudan was engulfed in chaos in April 2023 when a dispute for control between the military and the RSF escalated into direct clashes in the national capital and other parts the country.
- The fighting has killed more than 40,000 people, a number advocates consider a major underestimate.
- Recent fighting has centred on Kordofan, particularly since the RSF captured El Fasher.
- The conflict has destroyed towns and has been noted for horrors, like mass rape and ethnically motivated killings.
- These crimes have been called crimes against humanity by the UN and rights groups.
- The conflict has also precipitated the planet's most severe humanitarian emergency and forced parts of the country into famine.
