Deadly Drone Strike Hits UN Base in Sudan, Killing Six Bangladeshi Peacekeepers
A devastating drone attack struck a United Nations peacekeeping logistics base in Kadugli, South Kordofan region, on Saturday, killing six Bangladeshi peacekeepers and wounding eight others. The assault, described by UN Secretary-General António Guterres as “horrific,” targeted the Kadugli Logistics Base operated under the UN Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA), a mission tasked with stabilizing the disputed oil-rich Abyei area between Sudan and South Sudan.
All victims were Bangladeshi nationals, underscoring the heavy toll on one of the world’s top contributors to UN peacekeeping operations. Bangladesh’s Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) identified the fallen soldiers as Corporal Md Masud Rana, Private Md Mominul Islam, Private Shamim Reza, Private Shanto Mondol, mess waiter Md Jahangir Alam, and laundry worker Md Sobuj Mia. The attack occurred between 3:40 p.m. and 3:50 p.m. local time, with clashes reportedly continuing afterward.
Sudan’s military swiftly blamed the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) for the strike, amid the country’s brutal civil war that erupted in April 2023 between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the RSF. The conflict has displaced millions, triggered famine warnings, and been marked by widespread atrocities. The RSF has not commented on the allegations.
Guterres condemned the attack in strong terms, stating that assaults on UN personnel “may constitute war crimes” and calling for accountability. Bangladesh’s interim leader, Muhammad Yunus, expressed deep sorrow and urged the UN to provide emergency aid to the wounded. Dhaka’s foreign ministry labeled the incident a “grave violation” of international peace efforts.Bangladesh has deployed thousands of troops to UN missions globally, with a long presence in Abyei since 2011. This incident marks the deadliest single attack on UN peacekeepers in Sudan since the civil war began, highlighting the escalating dangers in volatile regions like South Kordofan.
As the UN renews calls for a ceasefire, the strike serves as a grim reminder of the risks borne by blue-helmeted forces in pursuit of global stability.