Aerial Strike on United Nations Compound in Conflict-Ravaged Sudan Claims Six Peacekeepers

A aerial bombardment struck a United Nations facility in conflict-ridden Sudan on Saturday, leading to the loss of six peacekeeping personnel, as stated by a declaration.

The strike occurred at a UN facility in the city of Kadugli, situated in the mid-country region of Kordofan.

8 additional soldiers were hurt in the attack. All the casualties are citizens of Bangladesh, deployed with the UN peacekeeping contingent in Abyei.

“Assaults aimed at United Nations peacekeepers may constitute violations of international law under international law,” officials stated, demanding the perpetrators for the “inexcusable” strike to be held accountable.

Military Blames Fighter Group

The national army assigned responsibility for the attack on the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a notorious militia that has been fighting with the army for power in the country for more than two years.

The strike “clearly reveals the subversive nature of the rebel militia and its backers,” the army said in a release.

Background of the Contested Area

The resource-abundant Abyei is a disputed territory between Sudan and its southern neighbor, and the United Nations contingent has been stationed there since 2011, when the south became independent from Sudan.

Demands for an immediate ceasefire in Sudan were also expressed to allow “a comprehensive, inclusive and Sudanese-owned peace process” to resolve the conflict.

Nation Engulfed in Chaos Since 2023

Sudan was thrown into chaos in April 2023 when a political rivalry between the military and the RSF escalated into direct clashes in the city of Khartoum and across the country.

• The fighting has taken more than 40,000 people, a figure human rights organizations consider a significant undercount.
• Recent fighting has focused on Kordofan, particularly since paramilitary forces seized El Fasher.
• The conflict has devastated towns and has been characterized by atrocities, like widespread sexual violence and ethnically motivated killings.
• These crimes have been labeled crimes against humanity by international bodies.
• The war has also created the globe's most dire humanitarian emergency and forced parts of the country into famine.