Aerial Assault on UN Base in War-Torn Sudan Kills Six Peacekeepers

A aerial bombardment hit a United Nations logistics base in war-torn Sudan on Saturday, leading to the deaths of six peacekeepers, according to a statement.

The incident targeted a UN facility in the city of Kadugli, located in the central region of Kordofan.

8 other peacekeepers were hurt in the assault. Each of the those affected are from Bangladesh, serving in the United Nations mission in Abyei.

“Assaults aimed at UN personnel may constitute war crimes under international law,” officials stated, calling for those responsible for the “inexcusable” attack to be held accountable.

Army Blames Paramilitary Faction

The Sudanese military blamed the attack on the RSF fighters, a notorious militia that has been fighting with the military for power in the country for over 24 months.

The strike “clearly reveals the rebellious nature of the armed faction and those behind it,” the army said in a release.

Context of the Disputed Region

The oil-rich Abyei is a claimed region between Sudan and South Sudan, and the peacekeeping force has been operating there since 2011, when South Sudan became independent from Sudan.

Calls for an swift truce in Sudan were also made to allow “a wide-ranging, all-encompassing and nationally led dialogue” to settle the fighting.

Country Engulfed in Chaos Since 2023

Sudan was thrown into open war in April 2023 when a political rivalry between the army and the RSF escalated into full-scale combat in the national capital and across the country.

• The conflict has claimed tens of thousands, a toll rights groups believe a significant undercount.
• Recent combat has centred on Kordofan, particularly since fighters seized El Fasher.
• The crisis has destroyed towns and has been characterized by horrors, such as systematic rape and killings based on ethnicity.
• These crimes have been described as crimes against humanity by international bodies.
• The war has also created the planet's most severe humanitarian emergency and forced parts of the country into famine.