Drone Strike Kills at Least 73 in Disputed Sudan-South Sudan Region
At least 73 people have been killed and 19 others injured after a drone strike hit a market in the disputed Abyei region along the Sudan-South Sudan border, according to local officials.
Yohana Akol Ngor, caretaker information minister for the jointly administered territory, said the attack targeted Amiet Common Market on Monday, October 19. The market is located about 10 kilometres from Abyei town.
Ngor accused Sudan’s armed forces of carrying out the strike, but did not provide evidence supporting the allegation. The circumstances of the attack and responsibility for it have not been independently established.
Local reports said the drones struck several sections of the market, including areas where fuel was sold. Some victims reportedly suffered severe burns, while rescue and recovery efforts were complicated by thick smoke.
South Sudan’s Foreign Ministry summoned Sudan’s ambassador in Juba to protest the attack, according to local reporting, reflecting growing diplomatic tensions over the incident.
Abyei is an oil-rich territory claimed by both Sudan and South Sudan. Its status has remained unresolved since South Sudan gained independence in 2011, and the area has experienced recurring violence and political disputes.
The strike comes amid an intensification of Sudan’s civil war, which began in April 2023 between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces. Drone attacks across several regions have increasingly endangered civilians and damaged civilian infrastructure.
The casualty figures and allegations of responsibility remain based on reports from local officials, with further independent verification awaited.
