Newsletters
Türkiye condemned the drone attack on the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) logistics base in Kadugli, the capital of South Kordofan state in Sudan, that killed six Bangladeshi peacekeepers and wounded eight others.
"We condemn the attack on the logistics base of the U.N. Interim Security Force for Abyei in Kadugli, the capital of South Kordofan state in Sudan," the Foreign Ministry said in a written statement on Monday.
"We wish Allah's mercy upon the Bangladeshi peacekeepers who lost their lives in this heinous attack, and a speedy recovery to the wounded," the statement added.
The Turkish Foreign Ministry also emphasized the importance of preserving Sudan's unity and territorial integrity in the statement, adding that, "We reiterate our strong support for the efforts aimed at finding a peaceful solution to the ongoing conflicts in the country."
U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres strongly condemned the Saturday attack, warning it may amount to war crimes.
"I strongly condemn the horrific drone attacks that targeted the logistics base in Kadugli, Sudan, resulting in fatalities and injuries of members of the Bangladeshi U.N. Peacekeeping contingent," Guterres said on X.
"Attacks against U.N. peacekeepers like this one are unjustifiable and may constitute war crimes. I remind everyone of their obligation to protect U.N. personnel and civilians. There will need to be accountability," Guterres added.
The United States condemned the attack "in the strongest terms," with Massad Boulos, U.S. senior adviser for Arab and African Affairs, calling it an "egregious disregard for international efforts to protect peace and security."
Boulos demanded that the warring parties "must not target U.N. personnel" and must "cease hostilities without preconditions" while allowing "unhindered humanitarian access."
The Sudanese army blamed the attack on the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) paramilitary group.
"Continuing its criminal approach, the Rapid Support Forces militia targeted the headquarters of the U.N. mission and the Bangladeshi contingent in the city of Kadugli using a strategic drone, firing three missiles from the drone," the army said.
The army described the targeting of the U.N. mission headquarters as "a criminal act that constitutes a flagrant violation of international humanitarian law and of U.N. resolutions protecting peacekeeping forces and U.N. facilities."
Sudan's Transitional Sovereignty Council strongly condemned the attack as "a serious breach of the protection afforded to U.N. facilities and a blatant violation of international humanitarian law."
"Targeting a protected U.N. facility represents a dangerous escalation and criminal behavior that amounts to an organized terrorist act, revealing a deliberate disregard for international law and a direct threat to the work of humanitarian and international missions," the Council said.
The attack is the first of its kind to target the U.N. mission deployed to the disputed Abyei region between Sudan and South Sudan since the outbreak of war between the army and RSF in April 2023.
Kadugli has been under siege imposed by the RSF and the Sudan People's Liberation Movement since the early months of the war and has been subjected to repeated artillery and drone attacks, according to human rights organizations.
The UNISFA peacekeeping mission was deployed in 2011 in the oil-rich Abyei Administrative Area, which is administered by Sudan and neighboring South Sudan, with both claiming stakes and having been embroiled in conflict for years. The mission mandate was renewed last month.
The fighting since April 2023 has killed thousands, displaced millions and led to one of the world's worst humanitarian crises.
1 min read
1 min read
