Aerial Strike on UN Compound in Conflict-Ravaged Sudan Kills Six Peacekeepers
A aerial bombardment struck a UN compound in conflict-ridden Sudan on Saturday, resulting in the deaths of six peacekeepers, per a declaration.
The incident impacted a UN outpost in the city of Kadugli, found in the central region of Kordofan.
Eight other peacekeepers were injured in the assault. Each of the casualties are from Bangladesh, deployed with the UN interim security force for Abyei (Unisfa).
“Assaults against United Nations peacekeepers may constitute violations of international law under global statutes,” it was declared, urging the culprits for the “unjustifiable” strike to be held accountable.
Military Accuses Fighter Faction
The national army blamed the strike on the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a notorious armed faction that has been at war with the army for dominance over the country for over 24 months.
The attack “clearly reveals the rebellious nature of the rebel militia and its supporters,” the military said in a statement.
Background of the Disputed Region
The resource-abundant Abyei is a disputed region between Sudan and its southern neighbor, and the peacekeeping force has been deployed there since 2011, when South Sudan seceded from Sudan.
Calls for an urgent halt to fighting in Sudan were also issued to allow “a broad, all-encompassing and nationally led peace process” to address the conflict.
Country Plunged into Conflict Since 2023
Sudan was plunged into chaos in April 2023 when a dispute for control between the military and the RSF exploded into direct clashes in the capital, Khartoum and other parts the country.
- The fighting has claimed over 40,000 lives, a figure advocates consider a significant undercount.
- Recent combat has focused on Kordofan, particularly since paramilitary forces seized El Fasher.
- The conflict has destroyed towns and has been characterized by atrocities, including widespread sexual violence and ethnically motivated killings.
- These acts have been called international crimes by global observers.
- The situation has also created the world’s worst humanitarian crisis and forced parts of the country into famine.
