Aerial Assault on UN Base in Conflict-Ravaged Sudan Kills 6 UN Personnel
A aerial bombardment struck a United Nations facility in war-torn Sudan on Saturday, causing the demise of six UN soldiers, as stated by a announcement.
The attack targeted a peacekeeping logistics base in the city of Kadugli, found in the central region of Kordofan.
8 additional personnel were injured in the strike. All the victims are citizens of Bangladesh, deployed with the United Nations mission in Abyei.
“Attacks aimed at United Nations peacekeepers could amount to violations of international law under international law,” the statement said, demanding the culprits for the “inexcusable” strike to be prosecuted.
Military Blames Fighter Faction
The Sudanese military blamed the attack on the paramilitary RSF group, a well-known militia that has been fighting with the army for dominance over the country for over 24 months.
The attack “clearly reveals the rebellious approach of the armed faction and its backers,” the military said in a statement.
Background of the Disputed Region
The oil-rich Abyei is a contested region between Sudan and its southern neighbor, and the United Nations contingent has been deployed there since 2011, when South Sudan seceded from Sudan.
Calls for an urgent halt to fighting in Sudan were also expressed to allow “a broad, inclusive and nationally led political process” to resolve the war.
Country Plunged into Chaos Since 2023
Sudan was plunged into chaos in April 2023 when a power struggle between the military and the RSF exploded into direct clashes in the national capital and other parts the country.
- The war has claimed tens of thousands, a toll advocates consider a low estimate.
- Recent combat has been concentrated in Kordofan, particularly since fighters seized El Fasher.
- The war has destroyed urban areas and has been marked by atrocities, such as systematic rape and killings based on ethnicity.
- These acts have been labeled war crimes by international bodies.
- The conflict has also created the planet's most severe humanitarian emergency and driven parts of the country into extreme hunger.
