Six Bangladeshi peacekeepers killed as drone hits UN base in conflict-hit Abyei

Dhaka: Bangladesh has strongly condemned a drone attack on a United Nations base in Abyei, Sudan, in which six Bangladeshi UN peacekeepers were killed and eight others injured, four of them critically. The peacekeepers were serving under the UN peacekeeping mission when the attack took place on Saturday.

In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) said Bangladesh mourns the loss of its “valiant sons” and expressed deep condolences to the bereaved families. The government also prayed for the swift recovery of the injured personnel.

"Bangladesh strongly condemns the attack today on the Bangladeshi peacekeepers who were serving under the UN peacekeeping mission in Sudan. Six Bangladeshi peacekeepers have died and eight were injured when a drone attack was carried out on a United Nations base in Abyei, Sudan," the statement said.

The Foreign Minister added that Bangladesh’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York has requested the UN to ensure the best possible medical treatment for the injured. The mission is also in close contact with UN authorities to extend all necessary support to the Bangladeshi contingent deployed in the region.

What do we know about the attack?

Bangladesh’s Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) earlier confirmed the incident, describing it as a terrorist attack on a UN base in Abyei. In a Facebook post, ISPR said six Bangladesh Army peacekeepers were killed and eight injured during the attack on Saturday, December 13, 2025.

The ISPR also stated that clashes between peacekeepers and militants were ongoing at the site at the time of the announcement, indicating a volatile security situation in the area.

Why is Abyei a conflict zone?

Abyei is an unresolved border region located between Sudan and South Sudan. Rich in oil reserves, the area is economically significant and has historically been home to the Dinka Ngok community of South Sudan. At the same time, the Misseriya nomadic group from Sudan has long used the land for seasonal grazing.

This mix of geography and ethnicity has made Abyei a longstanding point of conflict.

Under the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement, a referendum was planned to allow Abyei’s residents to decide whether to join Sudan or South Sudan. However, political disagreements, security concerns and disputes over voter eligibility have repeatedly delayed the vote, leaving the region in limbo.

To prevent violence, the United Nations deployed peacekeeping forces to Abyei. Despite their presence, ongoing disputes over land, grazing rights, oil resources and political control continue to make the region highly unstable.

ANI inputs