The U.S. condemned a drone strike on a United Nations base in Kadugli, on Saturday that killed six Bangladeshi peacekeepers and injured eight others in the disputed Abyei region between Sudan and South Sudan.
U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned the attack in a post on X, expressing his condolences to the families of those killed and wishing a speedy recovery to the injured. He called it "unjustifiable" warning it could constitute a war crime.
"Attacks against UN peacekeepers like this one are unjustifiable & may constitute war crimes. I remind everyone of their obligation to protect UN personnel & civilians," he said.
Bangladesh is one of the largest contributors to U.N. peacekeeping missions and its troops have long been deployed in the volatile region.
"A drone attack was carried out by separatist armed groups on the Kadugali Logistics Base under the UN peacekeeping mission in Abyei, Sudan yesterday (Saturday) from approximately 3:40 p.m. to 3:50 p.m. local time," the armed forces' public relations division said in a statement on Sunday.
Massad Boulos, U.S. senior adviser for Arab and African Affairs, called the attack an "egregious disregard for international efforts to protect peace and security" on X. He emphasised that warring parties must not target UN personnel, must cease hostilities immediately, and must allow unrestricted humanitarian access to those affected.
The attack occurred amid ongoing clashes between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which have raged since April 2023, causing thousands of deaths, millions of displaced people, and one of the world’s most severe humanitarian crises.
The Sudanese army attributed the strike to the RSF, which has not yet commented.
The victims were serving with the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA), stationed in the contested, oil-rich border area between Sudan and South Sudan, a longstanding flashpoint.
South Sudan split from Sudan in 2011 following a long civil war, but they failed to agree on the status of several regions that both sides claimed sovereignty over.
Hundreds of protesters have torn down fences surrounding a planned luxury development site in Albania, as public anger continues to mount over constr...
George Russell continued Mercedes's dominant qualifying form by securing pole position for the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix, while Lewis Hamilton en...
Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant has been reconnected to the electricity grid after repairs were carried out under a localised ceasefire bro...
Kazakhstan’s ruling Amanat party has announced it will merge with a party launched only a month ago by allies of the country’s President Kassym-...
U.S. and Pakistani leaders forecast a Sunday signing of a long-elusive framework agreement to end fighting between the United States and Iran, but Teh...
Hundreds of protesters have torn down fences surrounding a planned luxury development site in Albania, as public anger continues to mount over construction in environmentally sensitive areas.
George Russell continued Mercedes's dominant qualifying form by securing pole position for the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix, while Lewis Hamilton ensured an all British front row with second place for Ferrari.
Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant has been reconnected to the electricity grid after repairs were carried out under a localised ceasefire brokered by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
Kazakhstan’s ruling Amanat party has announced it will merge with a party launched only a month ago by allies of the country’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.
Pakistan has warned that any attempt by India to block or significantly reduce river flows under the Indus Waters Treaty could have “far-reaching consequences”, after India's water minister said New Delhi was working to ensure that “not a single drop” of water reaches Pakistan in the coming years.
SpaceX made a historic entrance into the Nasdaq on Friday, surging over 20% in its first day of trading and lifting its valuation to more than $2 trillion. Investors flocked to the world’s largest IPO, betting on Elon Musk’s sprawling empire spanning rockets, AI and beyond.
Armenia has every right to choose Europe. But Europe’s support for Armenia’s direction should not become automatic approval of its political process.
U.S. President Donald Trump has said a peace agreement with Iran is scheduled to be signed on Sunday in a post on social media, despite Tehran's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei saying no deal would be approved this weekend.
Japan’s birth rate and fertility levels have fallen to their lowest levels on record, highlighting the country’s worsening demographic crisis as fewer people marry and have children.
British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has pledged to publish the UK government's long-awaited Defence Investment Plan ahead of next month's NATO summit in Ankara, following growing pressure over the UK's military spending commitments.
Hundreds of protesters have torn down fences surrounding a planned luxury development site in Albania, as public anger continues to mount over construction in environmentally sensitive areas.
George Russell continued Mercedes's dominant qualifying form by securing pole position for the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix, while Lewis Hamilton ensured an all British front row with second place for Ferrari.
Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant has been reconnected to the electricity grid after repairs were carried out under a localised ceasefire brokered by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
Swiss voters decide whether to back a proposal to cap the country's population in a referendum likened to Britain's Brexit vote, which could have far-reaching consequences for the economy and Bern's relations with the European Union.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment