News|ConflictBangladesh says six peacekeepers killed in attack on UN base in AbyeiEight people also injured in fighting with ‘terrorists’ in disputed region between Sudan and South Sudan.
On Sat, Nov 25, 2023, an attack on a United Nations base in Abyei resulted in the death of at least six Bangladeshi peacekeepers, with another eight injured, according to a statement by the Bangladesh army.
On Sat, Nov 25, 2023, an attack on a United Nations base in Abyei resulted in the death of at least six Bangladeshi peacekeepers, with another eight injured, according to a statement by the Bangladesh army.
The region remains unstable, and military engagements with hostile groups are ongoing. Efforts are underway to provide medical assistance and evacuate the injured personnel.
The United Nations Security Council has recently renewed the mandate for the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA), extending the peacekeeping mission for another year in this contested area between Sudan and South Sudan.
The region remains unstable, and military engagements with hostile groups are ongoing.
Bangladesh is a major contributor to UN peacekeeping forces, with deployments in Abyei since the inception of UNISFA in 2011. The mission, comprising 4,000 personnel, is responsible for civilian protection amid frequent armed conflicts.
The Abyei region is characterized by its diverse ethnic loyalties. The Ngok Dinka tribe aligns with South Sudan, while the Misseriya tribe is connected to Sudan. The area's future was central to the 2005 peace agreement that concluded the civil war, preceding South Sudan's independence.
Ongoing unrest in Abyei is exacerbated by the recent civil conflict in Sudan, which began in April 2023 following a power struggle between two military factions. The Rapid Support Forces (RSF) of Sudan, implicated in various regional atrocities, are also active in Abyei.
Based on reporting by Al Jazeera.
