Six peacekeepers buried after deadly drone attack in Sudan

Providing an update at the daily midday press briefing, UN deputy spokesperson Farhan Haq told correspondents that the “peacekeepers” were killed and nine others injured on Saturday when UNISNA’s logistics base in Washington was targeted in what the mission described as a “horrific drone attack”.

We do not yet know at this stage who led this strike, he added.

Sacrifice for peace

The ceremony in Abyei marked the official farewell of the fallen peacekeepers, whose remains will now be returned to Bangladesh.

UNISFA said their “sacrifice for peace will never be forgotten”, adding that the entire mission mourned alongside the families of the deceased and the government and people of Bangladesh.

The nine injured were evacuated from Kadugli to Abyei on the day of the attack and are being treated at the UNISFA hospital.

The mission said its top priority was to provide all necessary and appropriate medical care to the injured.

UNISFA strongly condemned this attack, extending its deepest condolences to the families of the victims and the Bangladeshi authorities, while wishing a speedy and full recovery to the injured.

New protective measures

UNISFA added that it had taken all necessary measures to protect its personnel and facilities, including the strengthening of protective measures at the Kadugli logistics base, and would continue to carefully assess the situation.

Acting Head of Mission and Force Commander, Major General Robert Yaw-Affram visited Kadugli on Monday.

UNISFA also reiterated the Secretary-General’s message delivered over the weekend, emphasizing that attacks targeting peacekeepers may constitute war crimes under international law and that those responsible must be held accountable.

The mission was established in 2011 and its mandate, recently extended by one year, includes strengthening the capacity of the Abyei Police Service in the disputed and oil-rich region, monitoring and verifying the redeployment of forces from the region, facilitating the delivery of humanitarian aid and protecting civilians.

Nearly 4,000 soldiers and police are on duty, alongside civilian personnel.