Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
Six United Nations peacekeepers were killed and eight others wounded in a drone strike that hit a UN facility in Sudan, prompting strong condemnation from the United Nations and renewed warnings over the deepening conflict in the country.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres announced that the attack targeted a logistics base belonging to the UN Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) in the city of Kadugli, in Sudan’s central Kordofan region. All of the casualties were Bangladeshi nationals serving with the peacekeeping mission.
In a statement, Guterres said attacks against UN peacekeepers may constitute war crimes under international law and called for those responsible for the “unjustified attack” to be held fully accountable. “Such acts are unacceptable and violate the principles of international humanitarian law,” he said.
Bangladesh’s interim Prime Minister Muhammad Yunus expressed “deep sorrow” over the deaths, confirming the toll of six killed and eight injured. He urged the United Nations to ensure that all necessary emergency assistance is provided to Bangladeshi personnel serving in Sudan. The Bangladeshi army also confirmed the deaths, noting that the security situation in the area remains volatile, with ongoing clashes involving armed groups.
The Sudanese Armed Forces blamed the attack on the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), the powerful paramilitary group that has been fighting the army for control of the country since April 2023. In a statement, the army said the strike “clearly exposes the destructive approach of the rebel militia and those backing it.”
Sudan’s Prime Minister Kamel Idris echoed the accusation, calling on the United Nations to take “urgent deterrent measures” and ensure those responsible are brought to justice. The RSF, however, rejected the allegations, describing them in a statement on Telegram as “false accusations.”
Footage released by the Sudanese army showed thick plumes of black smoke rising from two separate points inside the UN base, with fires visible across the compound following the strike.
The attack comes amid shifting battle lines in central Sudan. After consolidating control over El Fasher in North Darfur in late October, the RSF has expanded eastward into oil-rich Kordofan, a vast region divided into three states. Kordofan holds major strategic importance, serving as a logistical corridor between army-held territories in northern, eastern, and central Sudan and the Darfur region.
Analysts say the RSF’s push into Kordofan aims to break the Sudanese army’s last defensive arc around central Sudan, potentially paving the way for renewed attempts to retake Khartoum and other major cities. The paramilitary force has deployed fighters, drones, and allied militias across the region, intensifying the conflict.
Sudan’s war, now entering its third year, has killed tens of thousands of people and displaced millions, creating one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises. The deadly strike on UN peacekeepers underscores the growing risks facing international forces operating in the country and highlights the increasing use of drones in a conflict that shows little sign of abating.
