On 13 December 2025 a drone strike hit a United Nations logistics base in Kadugli in South Kordofan, Sudan, killing six UN peacekeepers and wounding eight others. All victims were members of the Bangladeshi contingent serving with UNISFA, the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei.
The attack has intensified concerns over the safety of international personnel in Sudan and prompted urgent calls for investigation and accountability. UN officials warned that attacks on peacekeepers may amount to war crimes under international law and urged an immediate ceasefire to protect civilians and aid workers.
The attack and casualties
According to official briefings and statements released on 13 December 2025, a drone struck the Kadugli logistics base between about 15 40 and 15 50 local time. The strike produced dense black smoke captured on video by military accounts and media outlets, and resulted in six confirmed fatalities and eight injured peacekeepers.
Bangladesh’s Inter Services Public Relations Directorate released the names of the six killed and said that several of the injured were evacuated by helicopter for advanced medical care. One injured peacekeeper underwent successful surgery and remained under observation, while others continued to receive treatment.
The victims were all part of UNISFA, underscoring the direct human toll the attack took on a single national contingent contributing to a sensitive regional mission. The loss of life has prompted national mourning in Bangladesh and immediate support measures for the families of the fallen.
Who the victims were and UNISFA’s role
The six killed and the wounded were serving within UNISFA, a mission deployed to the disputed Abyei area. UNISFA includes nearly 4,000 military, police and civilian personnel and has responsibilities that include security, protection of civilians, support to local police and facilitation of humanitarian access.
UNISFA’s mandate has been renewed recently, reflecting the mission’s central role in a volatile border area where stability and aid delivery depend on neutral security guarantees. The attack on a logistics base therefore has consequences beyond immediate casualties, threatening supply lines and the mission’s ability to support civilians.
For Bangladesh the loss is especially acute. National leaders expressed deep sadness and pledged support to affected families, while Bangladeshi officials worked with the UN and partners to secure medical evacuation and assistance for the injured.
International reaction and calls for accountability
UN Secretary General António Guterres condemned the strike and called for accountability, saying attacks targeting United Nations personnel may constitute war crimes under international law. The of UN Peacekeeping described the attack as shocking and reiterated that UN personnel are not legitimate targets in any conflict.
Countries including the United States and members of the European Union issued condolences and demanded independent investigations. Multilateral bodies emphasized the obligation of parties to protect UN personnel and civilians, and urged rapid, transparent forensic inquiries to establish responsibility.
The international response added diplomatic pressure to ongoing efforts to restrain hostilities in Sudan, and underscored how attacks on neutral facilities can erode humanitarian space and hamper lifesaving assistance in conflict zones.
Claims, attribution and the need for investigation
The Sudanese Armed Forces publicly blamed the Rapid Support Forces for the drone strike and released footage showing smoke over the UN facility. The RSF did not immediately comment on the allegations, and independent forensic attribution remained pending at the time of reporting.
Multiple news outlets cautioned that while visual evidence shows the strike’s impact, precise weapon type and a verified chain of responsibility require technical analysis. The UN and member states have called for thorough, impartial investigations to determine what happened and whether international law was breached.
Investigations will need to address not only who launched the drone but also whether combatants took feasible precautions to avoid striking protected UN facilities and whether any action amounts to a war crime. The UN made clear that any party found responsible should be held accountable.
Wider conflict context in Sudan
The attack occurred amid a protracted conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces that began in April 2023. International reporting places the broader human cost of the fighting in the tens of thousands killed and millions displaced, creating a volatile environment for peacekeepers and aid workers.
One day before the Kadugli strike the UK announced sanctions on senior RSF commanders over alleged involvement in mass killings and sexual violence, reflecting mounting international pressure and a deteriorating rule of law in parts of the country.
The strike on a UN base highlights how the conflict has evolved to include drones and other remote systems, increasing the risk to noncombatants and neutral installations and complicating efforts to negotiate ceasefires or deliver aid.
Operational and humanitarian consequences
Beyond the immediate human tragedy, the attack threatens UNISFA operations in a strategically sensitive area. Damage to a logistics base can disrupt supplies, medevac capacity and coordination for humanitarian convoys that serve vulnerable populations in Abyei and South Kordofan.
The UN has warned that attacks on its assets undermine the protection of civilians and may restrict access for humanitarian agencies, worsening an already dire situation for displaced people and communities caught between warring parties.
Member states and UN leadership urged steps to safeguard personnel and facilities, and called for measures to deescalate fighting, restore humanitarian access and ensure robust investigations into attacks on peacekeepers.
The killing of six UN peacekeepers in this Sudan drone strike has reopened urgent questions about the conduct of hostilities and the protection of neutral actors in the conflict. The incident brought swift condemnation and demands for clarity from the UN, affected states and international partners.
As investigations proceed and diplomatic pressure intensifies, the immediate priority remains care for the wounded and support for the families of the fallen, alongside preserving humanitarian space and preventing further attacks on UN personnel. The outcome of inquiries will shape both accountability measures and future efforts to protect peacekeepers in Sudan and other conflict zones.
