Six Bangladeshi Peacekeepers Killed in drone strike on UN Base
Six Bangladeshi peacekeepers serving with the United Nations were killed and at least eight others wounded after a drone attack hit a UN base in Abyei, a disputed and volatile region of southern Sudan, authorities said on Saturday.
Bangladesh’s interim government chief, Muhammad Yunus, expressed deep shock and grief over the incident, calling it a “cowardly terrorist attack” on personnel serving under the UN flag. In a statement, he said Dhaka had formally urged the United Nations to ensure immediate evacuation, advanced medical care and full assistance for the injured peacekeepers. He also conveyed condolences to the families of those killed and praised their sacrifice in the cause of international peace.
Bangladesh’s army confirmed the attack in a social media post, saying the strike occurred inside the UNISFA base in Abyei and that clashes in the surrounding area were still continuing at the time of the statement. The military did not identify the group responsible for the drone strike.
The United Nations had not issued an immediate response, but UN officials in the past have warned of rising threats to peacekeepers in Sudan’s border regions, where armed groups, militias and criminal networks operate with increasing sophistication, including the use of drones.
The United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) was established in 2011 to monitor the ceasefire between Sudan and South Sudan and protect civilians in the oil-rich Abyei Administrative Area, which is claimed by both countries. The mission’s mandate was renewed last month amid continued instability and political uncertainty on both sides of the border.
Bangladesh is one of the largest contributors of troops to UN peacekeeping missions worldwide and has a long history of deployment in high-risk environments. The latest attack highlights growing security challenges facing peacekeepers in conflict zones, particularly as modern weapons such as armed drones become more accessible to non-state actors.
Regional analysts say tensions in Abyei have intensified in recent months due to unresolved border disputes, competition over oil resources and spillover violence from Sudan’s broader civil conflict, increasing the risks for international forces stationed in the area.
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