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A drone strike on a market in the disputed Abyei region between Sudan and South Sudan has killed at least 153 people, according to local officials.
The attack hit Amiet Market, north of Abyei town, on Monday, October 19, and struck a nearby fuel depot, triggering a major fire that continued to burn on Tuesday.
The death toll was expected to rise as recovery efforts continued.
Yohanna Akol Ngor, caretaker information minister of the Abyei administration, blamed Sudan’s military for the attack.
However, the responsibility for the strike could not be independently verified.
Doctors Without Borders (MSF) said more than 20 injured people had been taken to Ameth Bek Hospital, where medical teams were treating patients, including several in critical condition and people suffering from severe burns.
South Sudan’s Foreign Ministry also blamed Sudan’s military, summoned the Sudanese ambassador to protest and called for disputes over Abyei to be resolved through diplomatic channels.
The attack comes amid the ongoing civil war in Sudan between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which began in April 2023.
The conflict has triggered a major humanitarian crisis across the country and increasingly affected neighbouring areas.
Photo: Collected
