U.N. mourns six peacekeepers killed in Kadugli and condemns killing of staff in South Sudan

The United Nations announced that six peacekeepers serving with UNISFA were killed in a drone attack on their camp in Kadugli, South Kordofan. The spokesperson read names and ages of the six Bangladeshi soldiers and said their remains departed the U.N. logistics base in Entebbe for Bangladesh.

The spokesperson also confirmed that eight of the nine peacekeepers injured in the attack are receiving treatment at a Nairobi hospital and one injured peacekeeper was discharged from the mission's medical facility in Abyei.

Separately, the U.N. said it was "deeply shocked" and condemns the killing of a national staff member from its peacekeeping mission in South Sudan. The spokesperson said the individual, described as an interpreter, was removed from a U.N. vehicle on Dec. 15 by local security forces and died in custody. "We call for an immediate, thorough, and transparent investigation by the South Sudanese authorities to ensure those responsible can be held to account," the spokesperson said.

The U.N. reiterated that attacks against U.N. personnel may constitute war crimes and said accountability must prevail. The briefing did not provide further details on perpetrators or progress in investigations beyond the calls for inquiries and repatriation of remains.