Six United Nations peacekeepers from Bangladesh were killed on Saturday after a drone strike hit a UN camp in Kadugli, the capital of South Kordofan state in southern Sudan, the United Nations has confirmed.
The United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) said six soldiers were killed and six others injured, four of them seriously, when the drone struck their base. All the victims were Bangladeshi nationals serving under the UN mission.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres strongly condemned the attack, calling it “horrific” and warning that it may amount to a war crime under international law. He said attacks on peacekeepers are unacceptable and demanded accountability.
Bangladesh’s interim leader Muhammad Yunus expressed deep sadness over the incident and said his government would support the families of the fallen soldiers. Bangladesh’s foreign ministry also issued a strong condemnation and asked the UN to ensure proper medical care for the wounded.
The Sudanese army-aligned government blamed the attack on the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), describing it as a dangerous escalation. However, the RSF denied responsibility, rejecting claims that its fighters carried out the drone strike.
Eyewitnesses reported seeing fires and smoke rising from the UN base, while the Sudanese army released video footage showing damage at the site. Medical officials confirmed that the victims were inside the UN facility at the time of the attack.
Kadugli has been under siege for more than a year and is facing severe food shortages, with famine declared in early November. The area is strategically important as fighting intensifies between Sudan’s army and the RSF, who have been at war since April 2023.
The conflict has killed tens of thousands of people, displaced millions, and triggered one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises. Despite international efforts, including recent calls by the United States to end the war, peace talks have so far failed.
