Six Bangladeshi Peacekeepers Killed in Drone Attack on UN Base in Southern Sudan

At least six peacekeepers from the Bangladesh Army were killed and several others seriously injured after a drone attack targeted a United Nations logistics base in southern Sudan, the Bangladeshi military confirmed on Sunday.

The attack occurred on Saturday afternoon at a UN base in Kadugli, which hosts the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA). Abyei is a volatile, oil-rich region disputed between Sudan and South Sudan.

Lt Col Sami Ud Dowla Chowdhury, Director of Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) of the Bangladesh Armed Forces, told Arab News that the situation was “under control” on Sunday, though three of the injured peacekeepers remain in critical condition.

“The injured are being provided with the highest level of care and treatment and are receiving the best possible medical attention,” Chowdhury said.

The Bangladeshi military has released the names of the deceased and injured personnel. Among those wounded are three women peacekeepers.

Sudan has been gripped by a brutal civil war since April 2023, with fighting between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), which controls the internationally recognised government, and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a powerful paramilitary group.

In a statement, the Sudanese army blamed the RSF for carrying out the attack on the UN peacekeepers. The RSF, however, denied responsibility in a message posted on its Telegram channel. The Bangladeshi military said it held “separatists” responsible, without providing further details.

Chowdhury said an investigation would be conducted strictly in line with UN procedures. “In this mission, we are part of the UN, so we cannot do anything outside of UN protocols. The UN will follow its due course in this regard,” he said, adding that no further details were available at present.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres strongly condemned the attack, describing it as “horrific.” In a statement issued on Sunday, he warned that “attacks targeting United Nations peacekeepers may constitute war crimes under international law” and stressed that accountability would be required.

Bangladesh is among the largest contributors to UN peacekeeping missions worldwide and has maintained a long-standing presence in Abyei. Currently, 6,359 Bangladeshi peacekeepers from the army, navy and air force are deployed across eight UN missions in eight countries.

Of these, around 2,000 personnel are stationed in Sudan and South Sudan.