Drone Strike On Sudan-South Sudan Border Market Kills At Least 153

A drone strike on a market in the disputed Abyei region between Sudan and South Sudan has killed at least 153 people, triggered a major fire and intensified tensions along the countries’ border, with Sudan’s military saying it targeted fuel tankers allegedly linked to the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

The attack struck Amiet Market on Monday, October 19, hitting a nearby fuel depot and setting it ablaze. Yohanna Akol Ngor, caretaker information minister of the Abyei administration, confirmed the death toll on Tuesday and said the number of casualties could rise as emergency teams struggled to deal with the aftermath.

A senior Sudanese military officer subsequently acknowledged that the army carried out the strike, telling The Associated Press that the intended targets were fuel tankers arriving from South Sudan that were allegedly destined for the RSF. The officer claimed those killed were RSF members or people associated with fuel smuggling. These claims have not been independently verified.

The strike has drawn condemnation from South Sudanese authorities and the United Nations, amid growing concerns over civilian casualties and the spread of Sudan’s civil war into neighbouring areas.

Doctors Without Borders, also known as MSF, said more than 20 wounded people had been brought to Ameth Bek Hospital, where its medical teams were working alongside South Sudan’s Health Ministry. Several patients were in critical condition, while others were being treated for burns.

South Sudan’s Foreign Ministry blamed Sudan’s military for the attack, saying multiple locations within the market were hit, causing civilian deaths and extensive property damage. It summoned Sudan’s ambassador to protest and urged the country to avoid actions endangering civilian lives and infrastructure.

The United Nations condemned the drone attacks near Amiet Market and Todach. UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said dozens of civilians, including women and children, had been killed, while many others were injured. The UN Interim Security Force for Abyei was helping verify casualties, with reports of missing people raising fears that the toll could increase.

The attack comes as Sudan remains engulfed in a civil war between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the RSF, which began in April 2023. The conflict has devastated large parts of Sudan and triggered a major humanitarian crisis.

The oil-rich Abyei region remains disputed between Sudan and South Sudan, which became independent in 2011. Its final status was left unresolved by a 2005 peace agreement, and a proposed referendum stalled over disagreements about voter eligibility. The region is home to the Ngok Dinka community and is also used by Misseriya nomads for grazing, making it a longstanding source of territorial and communal tensions.