NAIROBI — The United States has issued a blistering condemnation following a drone strike that killed six United Nations peacekeepers in Sudan on Saturday, marking a dangerous escalation in the two-year civil war. The attack, which targeted a logistics base in Kadugli, South Kordofan, has drawn immediate ire from the Trump administration, which recently pivoted its foreign policy focus to the conflict at the behest of Saudi Arabia.

Massad Boulos, the U.S. Senior Advisor for Arab and African Affairs, described the strike as an "egregious disregard" for international law. In a statement released on Sunday, Boulos warned that targeting UN personnel crosses a red line, demanding that Sudan’s warring parties "cease hostilities without preconditions." The strike also left eight other peacekeepers wounded, all from the Bangladeshi contingent serving under the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA).

A War Crime in the Making?

Details from the ground remain grim. The drone reportedly fired three missiles at the UN facility, setting a storage depot ablaze and devastating the barracks where the peacekeepers were stationed. While the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) were quick to blame the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) for the "terrorist act," the RSF categorically denied responsibility, calling the accusations "baseless lies" intended to tarnish their reputation.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres did not mince words, stating that the attack "may constitute war crimes under international law." For Kenyans watching the chaos unfold to the north, the stakes are rising. A destabilized Sudan threatens not just regional security but the economic lifeline of East Africa, with potential refugee influxes and disrupted trade routes.

• Casualties: 6 dead, 8 wounded (all Bangladeshi nationals).
• Location: UNISFA Logistics Base, Kadugli, South Kordofan.
• Weapon: Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (Drone) firing multiple missiles.

The Trump-Saudi Connection

This tragedy tests President Donald Trump’s newfound commitment to resolving the Sudan crisis. In November, Trump revealed that he had begun working on a peace plan "30 minutes after" a personal request from Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS). The Crown Prince, during a visit to Washington, reportedly urged Trump to use his influence to halt the atrocities, prompting the U.S. to shift from a traditional aid-based approach to one focused on investment and negotiated settlements.

"His Majesty would like me to do something very powerful having to do with Sudan," Trump told investors last month. The U.S. strategy now aligns closely with the 'Quad' nations—the U.S., UK, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE—attempting to broker a ceasefire. However, analysts warn that Saturday's attack complicates these diplomatic overtures, as trust between the SAF and RSF hits a new low.

With the conflict now dragging into its third year, the humanitarian toll is staggering. Over 40,000 people have died, and millions are displaced. As Washington weighs wider sanctions, the message from the international community is clear: accountability is no longer optional.

"There will need to be accountability," Guterres emphasized, signaling that the window for impunity is closing fast.