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Drone strike on UN peacekeepers
On 13–14 December a drone strike hit a United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) logistics compound in Kadugli, South Kordofan.
“A drone strike on Saturday hit a UN Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) logistics camp in Kadugli, South Kordofan, killing six Bangladeshi peacekeepers and wounding eight, the UN said.”
The attack killed six Bangladeshi peacekeepers and wounded others, according to UN and Bangladeshi accounts.
UNISFA and news outlets reported slightly different tallies for the wounded, with some saying six and others eight, while footage and eyewitnesses showed fires and heavy smoke at the site.
The attack occurred as UN and Bangladeshi officials requested emergency support for the wounded and repatriation of the dead.
Condemnation of the strike
The UN Secretary-General and senior UN peacekeeping officials strongly condemned the strike, calling it horrific and unjustifiable and warning the attack may constitute war crimes under international law while urging accountability and protection for UN personnel.
Bangladesh's political leadership and military spokespeople likewise denounced the assault, described the dead as national heroes, and urged the UN to provide medical care for the wounded and support for families.
Blame and Media Coverage
Responsibility for the strike is contested.
“Sudan’s military blamed the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), but the RSF denied responsibility.”
Sudan's armed forces and the Sovereignty Council quickly blamed the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
The RSF either denied responsibility or had no immediate comment in different reports.
Some Bangladesh and regional outlets quoted army-aligned authorities describing the attack as a 'terrorist' act and urged international accountability.
The divergence in reporting, explicit denial versus 'no immediate comment', reflects rapidly developing information and sourcing from army and RSF statements or independent observers.
Sudan conflict overview
The strike occurred amid a wider, brutal conflict that began in April 2023 between Sudan’s regular army and the RSF.
Sources repeatedly describe the war as having killed tens of thousands, displaced millions, and produced severe humanitarian crises, including pockets of famine.
Reporting differs in emphasis: West Asian outlets underline siege conditions around Kadugli and recent UN famine warnings.
Many Western and Asian outlets catalogue a series of deadly strikes in Kordofan, including a widely reported attack on a kindergarten and a hospital in Kalogi, to illustrate the conflict’s escalating toll on civilians.
UNISFA attack and reactions
The attack raises questions about the safety of UNISFA personnel and the vulnerability of UN logistics sites to drone strikes.
“UN Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA), established in 2011, currently comprises nearly 4,000 military and police personnel plus civilian staff.”
It has prompted calls for investigation and accountability.
UNISFA is a long-standing mission with about 4,000 personnel deployed to protect civilians and facilitate aid in the disputed Abyei area.
World leaders and Bangladeshi officials called for justice, improved protection for peacekeepers, and emergency assistance for the wounded.
Some political leaders urged that the RSF be designated a terrorist organization, a demand that highlights how national and local politics shape immediate responses to the strike.