Six United Nations peacekeepers from Bangladesh have been killed after a drone strike hit a UN logistics facility in Sudan’s South Kordofan state.
The attack occurred on Saturday in Kadugli and left eight other peacekeepers wounded, according to UN officials.
The victims were serving with the UN Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA), which operates in the long-disputed Abyei region along the Sudan–South Sudan border. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned the strike as “horrific” and “unjustifiable,” warning that deliberate attacks on UN personnel could amount to war crimes under international law. A memorial ceremony was held on Monday local time to honour those killed.
Sudan’s army-aligned government blamed the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) for the attack, describing it as a serious violation of the protections afforded to UN facilities. The RSF has denied responsibility, dismissing the allegation as a fabrication aimed at discrediting its forces.
The strike comes amid an escalation of drone warfare around Kadugli, where intense fighting continues between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the RSF nearly three years into the civil war. More than 40,000 people are believed to have died since the conflict began, with widespread reports of atrocities, particularly in Darfur.
UN missions have repeatedly been caught in the crossfire, facing detentions, abductions and attacks on convoys.
UNISFA, deployed to Abyei since 2011, currently includes about 4,000 personnel tasked with protecting civilians and supporting humanitarian efforts.
A solemn ceremony was organized in #Abyei today in honour of six #Bangladeshi peacekeepers killed in action following a drone attack @UNISFA_1 logistics base in #Kadugli, South #Kordofan. @UNPeacekeeping @UNNewsArabic @UNinBangladesh @BDArmyOfficial @Abyeifm @RadioMiraya pic.twitter.com/N5g9tNEKXs
— UNISFA – Abyei (@UNISFA_1) December 15, 2025
