The United Nations has issued a strong condemnation of a deadly drone attack on a peacekeeping base in South Kordofan, Sudan, which resulted in the deaths of six Bangladeshi peacekeepers and injuries to eight others serving with the UN Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA).
The UN has warned that the assault may amount to a war crime. The drone attack occurred on Saturday, targeting the UN logistics base in Kadugli, the capital of South Kordofan. All six fatalities and eight injured personnel were members of the Bangladeshi contingent of UNISFA.
Kadugli is a volatile area near the contested Abyei region, currently seeing intense fighting between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces.4
UN Secretary-General António Guterres strongly condemned the "unjustifiable" attack, offering his deepest condolences to Bangladesh and the families of the fallen.
Guterres reminded all conflicting parties of their obligation to protect UN personnel and civilians, stating that attacks targeting peacekeepers "may constitute war crimes under international law." Jean-Pierre Lacroix, Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations, reiterated this warning, calling the incident "horrific" and stressing that "UN peacekeepers are not a target."
Guterres renewed his call for an immediate cessation of hostilities in Sudan and urged warring parties to resume talks for a lasting ceasefire. Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus expressed deep shock and profound sorrow over the deaths and injuries.
He praised Bangladesh's well-known role in UN peacekeeping, calling the soldiers' sacrifice a matter of "pride and profound sorrow." The Chief Adviser strongly condemned the attack as a "serious crime against peace and humanity" and urged the UN and the international community to take stronger steps to protect peacekeepers. Professor Yunus confirmed that the government has asked the UN to provide the best medical care and support for the injured. The government is working closely with the UN to swiftly repatriate the bodies of the fallen soldiers and ensure proper treatment for the injured.
UNISFA was established in 2011 to monitor security, protect civilians, support local policing, and facilitate humanitarian aid in the oil-rich Abyei region, which is contested by Sudan and South Sudan.
