Home / War and Conflict / Sudan Base Drone Strike Kills 6 Bangladesh Peacekeepers
Sudan Base Drone Strike Kills 6 Bangladesh Peacekeepers
14 Dec
Summary
- Six Bangladeshi peacekeepers were killed in a drone attack on a UN base.
- The attack occurred in Sudan's Kordofan region amid ongoing civil war.
- The UN secretary general condemned the attack, calling it unjustifiable.
A drone attack on a United Nations base in Sudan's Kordofan region on Saturday resulted in the deaths of six Bangladeshi peacekeepers. This incident represents the most significant loss of life for UN personnel in Sudan since the commencement of the civil war more than two years ago. The base, located in a key area of recent fighting, was also reportedly hit by missiles, causing injuries and igniting a warehouse.
Sudan's military has attributed the strike to the rival Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a paramilitary group it is currently battling for control of the country. While the UN mission has not officially assigned blame, the RSF has been active in the Kordofan region, pushing eastward after recent advances in Darfur. These advances have been accompanied by numerous allegations of atrocities against civilians by RSF forces.
The United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA), to which the fallen peacekeepers belonged, has been deployed since 2011. While largely maintaining neutrality, the recent escalation of conflict has drawn the peacekeeping force into the fighting. The situation remains unstable, with ongoing clashes reported in the area.
