UN Peacekeepers Killed in Drone Strike as Sudan’s Civil War Deepens Humanitarian Crisis

Updated 2025-12-14 00:21:06-05:00 (5 articles)

UN Base Hit, Six Peacekeepers Killed On 14 December 2025 a drone struck the United Nations logistics base in Kadugli, central Kordofan, killing six peacekeepers and wounding eight [1]. Secretary‑General António Guterres labeled the attack a possible war crime and demanded accountability while urging an immediate ceasefire [1]. The Sudanese Armed Forces blamed the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) for the strike; the RSF offered no comment [1].

Kalogi Attacks Produce Rising Civilian Death Toll A series of RSF‑linked drone raids on Kalogi’s kindergarten and hospital on 7‑8 December 2025 killed at least 114 civilians, including 63 children, according to WHO and UN figures [3][4]. CNN reported 50 deaths (33 children) and a second strike on medics, while the BBC updated the toll to 114 dead and 35 injured the following day [3][4]. Both the Sudanese army and the Sudan Doctors’ Network accused the RSF of the attacks, which were carried out as residents attempted rescues [3][4].

Humanitarian Collapse Accelerates Across Sudan The war has displaced 9.8 million people, the fastest‑growing crisis worldwide, and pushed famine conditions into Kadugli and El Fasher by September 2025 [2]. Food prices have surged dramatically—sorghum in Kadugli rose to roughly $40 for 3 kg and millet in El Fasher exceeded $500 for 3.5 kg—exacerbating hunger for millions [2]. Overall fatalities exceed 50,000, with children bearing a disproportionate share of the loss [2][3].

RSF Gains Strategic Oil and Territorial Control The RSF announced the capture of the Heglig oil field near the Sudan‑South Sudan border, a claim later tempered by army reports of a tactical pull‑back to protect oil infrastructure [3]. Analysts note that RSF advances in Darfur and Kordofan give it the capacity to run a parallel administration in the west, while the Sudanese Armed Forces retain central and eastern zones [2]. These gains intensify the conflict’s stalemate and complicate peace negotiations [2][3].

International Bodies Call for Immediate Action The UN, WHO, and rights groups have urged an urgent ceasefire, blood donations, and unhindered humanitarian access, warning that continued attacks on civilians and aid workers may constitute violations of international humanitarian law [1][3][4]. Despite these appeals, diplomatic progress remains limited, and the risk of further large‑scale civilian casualties persists [1][4].

Sources

Timeline

April 15, 2023 – The power struggle between Sudan’s army (SAF) led by General Abdel Fattah al‑Burhan and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) commanded by Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo erupts into full‑scale civil war, splitting the country into SAF‑controlled east/center and RSF‑controlled Darfur and parts of Kordofan, setting the stage for later attacks on civilian sites[5].

2023‑2024 – Sudan’s economy contracts sharply, with GDP falling 29 % in 2023‑24, worsening civilian hardship and fueling the humanitarian crisis that later sees famine conditions in 2025[5].

September 2025 – Famine conditions are recorded in parts of Sudan, including Kordofan, as food prices skyrocket (e.g., sorghum at $40 for 3 kg, millet at $500 for 3.5 kg), highlighting the worsening emergency amid ongoing fighting[5].

Dec 6, 2025 – A drone strike hits a kindergarten in Kalogi, South Kordofan, killing at least 50 people, including 33 children; the Sudan Doctors’ Network and the army blame the RSF, while UNICEF spokesperson Sheldon Yett calls the attack “a horrific violation” and urges safe humanitarian access[2].

Dec 7, 2025 – A second drone strike in Kalogi targets paramedics and a nearby civilian site, raising the death toll and prompting Emergency Lawyers to condemn the attacks as “a flagrant violation of international humanitarian law” and to demand protection for civilians and aid workers[3].

Dec 8, 2025 – WHO’s monitoring system reports 114 deaths ( 63 children) and 35 injuries from the Kalogi attacks, and the RSF claims to have captured the Heglig oil field, prompting the army to pull back troops to protect oil facilities; WHO Director‑General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus urges an immediate ceasefire to end the war[1].

Dec 11, 2025 – Analysts note that RSF gains in Darfur and Kordofan enable a parallel administration in the west, while the SAF retains central and eastern zones; the Kalogi strike exemplifies the civilian toll as displacement reaches 9.8 million and famine spreads, underscoring the deepening humanitarian crisis[5].

Dec 13, 2025 – A drone strike hits the UN peacekeeping logistics base in Kadugli, Kordofan, killing six peacekeepers and wounding eight; UN Secretary‑General Antonio Guterres says the attack “may constitute war crimes under international law” and calls for accountability and an immediate ceasefire[4].

Dec 14, 2025 – The Sudanese military releases video of dense black smoke over the Kadugli UN facility, reaffirming its accusation that the RSF carried out the strike, while the RSF remains silent, maintaining the pattern of disputed responsibility for aerial attacks[4].