Local officials in Abyei say a drone strike on Amiet Market killed at least 153 people and blame Sudan’s military, but responsibility and the victims’ identities have not been independently verified.
The strike hit on Monday, October 19, north of Abyei town, in territory disputed by Sudan and South Sudan. Yohanna Akol Ngor, the caretaker information minister for the Abyei administration, said the reported death toll had risen from 73. Rescue workers continued recovering bodies.
The strike hit a fuel depot near the market. It sparked a fire. The fire was still burning the following day, making recovery efforts more difficult.
A senior Sudanese military officer told The Associated Press that the army had targeted fuel tankers allegedly headed for the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces. The officer claimed those killed were fighters or fuel smugglers. The Associated Press said it could not verify the officer’s account.
Doctors Without Borders reported that more than 20 wounded people reached a nearby hospital. They included patients with burns, and several were in critical condition. South Sudan’s Foreign Ministry also blamed Sudan’s military.
It said it had summoned Sudan’s ambassador to protest. The attack comes amid Sudan’s war, which began in April 2023. It also comes amid heightened insecurity in Abyei, whose political status remains disputed.