A drone strike on a market in a disputed border region between Sudan and South Sudan resulted in at least 153 fatalities on Monday, according to a local official, marking the latest in a series of deadly attacks. The incident raised the death toll from recent assaults to over 250, highlighting the deadly impact of airstrikes in Sudan's ongoing conflict, which began in April 2023 between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
Yohanna Akol Ngor, the caretaker information minister of the Abyei administration, attributed the attack to Sudan’s military, though no evidence was provided. The attack targeted the Amiet market, located north of Abyei town.
“A total of 153 deaths have been recorded,” stated Akol. However, Sudan’s military did not respond to requests for comment.
A local witness reported hearing five large explosions, which caused a nearby fuel depot to ignite. “People began evacuating the injured. Many had shrapnel wounds on their stomachs and legs… I saw 28 charred bodies at one site,” the witness recounted, requesting anonymity for safety.
Doctors Without Borders (MSF) reported that over 20 wounded individuals were taken to Ameth Bek hospital, where MSF teams worked alongside South Sudan's health ministry staff. Dr. Christian Lindauer, MSF’s medical activities manager, stated, “We have received over 20 patients, including several critical cases. Some patients with burns were also admitted.”
South Sudan’s foreign ministry also accused Sudan’s military of the attack, summoning Sudan’s ambassador to lodge a protest and urging Sudan to refrain from actions endangering civilian lives and property.
South Sudan gained independence from Sudan in 2011, yet both nations continue to claim the oil-rich Abyei, which is jointly administered. It borders Sudan’s Kordofan region, a significant battleground in the ongoing conflict.
Previously, a Sunday drone strike killed 80 people near a market in West Kordofan state. Additionally, a Friday attack on a market in the RSF stronghold of Nyala resulted in 23 deaths and 44 injuries, according to local volunteers.
MSF appealed to all parties to cease attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure, expressing concern over the population's ability to safely access healthcare and essential services.
The Amiet market serves as a trading hub for the Ngok Dinka and Misseriya communities. The majority Ngok Dinka population supports joining South Sudan, while the Misseriya nomads, who utilize its pastures, favor remaining with Sudan. The Abyei region has also witnessed deadly communal violence, including clashes over land between Ngok Dinka and neighboring Twic Dinka communities.
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