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The UN has confirmed that multiple peacekeepers were killed following a terrorist attack in Abyei, a disputed and volatile region between Sudan and South Sudan.

Some shit you should know before you dig in: If you’re unaware, there’s a contested region on the border of Sudan and South Sudan called Abyei, covering approximately 600 square kilometers. This area is rich in oil and fertile grazing land, making it a focal point of political and ethnic tensions since South Sudan’s independence in 2011. In response to the ongoing instability, the United Nations deployed the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) to monitor demilitarization, protect civilians, and facilitate humanitarian access. Despite these efforts, peacekeepers regularly face threats from armed militias and terrorist groups operating in the region.

What’s going on now: In a notable development, six Bangladeshi United Nations peacekeepers were killed and eight others injured in a drone attack on a UN base in Abyei. The attack, described by both Bangladeshi and UN officials as a terrorist act, occurred amid escalating tensions and ongoing clashes in the area. The drone targeted a logistics facility used by the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA), where the Bangladeshi contingent was stationed. As of now, it remains unclear who carried out the attack, though it marks one of the deadliest incidents involving UN peacekeepers in recent years.

The Bangladeshi Army confirmed the casualties in a statement, adding that “the situation in the area is still unstable and clashes with terrorists are ongoing.” The government of Bangladesh has called on the United Nations to provide “the highest level of medical treatment and necessary assistance” to the injured personnel, with Prime Minister Muhammad Yunus expressing deep shock over the incident.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres also condemned the attack, calling it “horrific” and warning that such acts may qualify as war crimes. “I strongly condemn the horrific drone attacks that targeted the United Nations peacekeeping logistics base in Kadugli, Sudan, on 13 December 2025, resulting in six fatalities and eight injuries – all members of the Bangladeshi peacekeeping contingent serving in the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA),” he stated. Guterres extended his “deepest and heartfelt condolences” to the government and people of Bangladesh and emphasized that “attacks targeting United Nations peacekeepers may constitute war crimes under international law.”