At least 153 people were killed in a drone strike on a market in Abyei, a disputed border region between Sudan and South Sudan, after the attack hit a nearby fuel depot and triggered a fire that continued to burn on Tuesday, a local official said.
Yohanna Akol Ngor, caretaker information minister of the Abyei administration, blamed Sudan’s military for Monday’s attack on Amiet Market, located north of Abyei town.
“We have recorded 153 deaths,” Akol told The Associated Press by phone on Tuesday, adding that the death toll was continuing to rise as the fire raged.
The motive behind the attack remained unclear, and the AP could not independently verify who was responsible. Sudan’s military did not respond to a request for comment.
Doctors Without Borders, also known by its French acronym MSF, said more than 20 injured people had been taken to Ameth Bek Hospital, where its medical teams were working alongside staff from South Sudan’s Health Ministry.
“So far we received over 20 patients, including several critical cases. Patients with burns were also admitted,” said Dr Christian Lindauer, MSF’s medical activities manager at the hospital.
South Sudan’s Foreign Ministry also blamed Sudan’s military, saying the strike hit several locations within the market, causing civilian casualties and extensive damage to property.
The ministry said it had summoned Sudan’s ambassador to protest the attack and urged Khartoum to “refrain from any actions that endanger civilian lives and property.” It also called for disputes over Abyei to be resolved through diplomatic channels.
Akol said the drone strike took place at around 11am on Monday, targeting a fuel depot that supplied local businesses.
“It is a horrible and shocking situation,” he said.
MSF called on all parties to halt attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure, voicing concern over people's ability to safely access healthcare and other essential services.
Amiet Market serves as a major trading hub for the Ngok Dinka and Misseriya communities.
The attack comes as Sudan’s military and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces continue to fight a war that began in April 2023, devastating large parts of Sudan and threatening stability along its borders.
The oil-rich Abyei region has long been disputed between Sudan and South Sudan. Its status remained unresolved under a 2005 peace agreement that ended decades of civil war and was still unsettled when South Sudan gained independence in 2011.
A proposed referendum on the region’s future stalled over disagreements about voter eligibility. The majority Ngok Dinka community supports joining South Sudan, while Misseriya nomads, who use the area’s pastures, favour remaining part of Sudan.
Abyei has also witnessed deadly communal violence, including land-related clashes between the Ngok Dinka and neighbouring Twic Dinka communities.