Drone strike on Abyei market kills at least 153, local official says
In short
A drone strike on Monday on Amiet Market in Abyei, a region disputed by Sudan and South Sudan, hit a nearby fuel depot and killed at least 153 people, a local official told the Associated Press. The fire was still burning on Tuesday. Abyei's caretaker information minister and South Sudan's Foreign Ministry blamed Sudan's military, which did not respond to a request for comment.
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A drone strike on a market in Abyei, a border region disputed by Sudan and South Sudan, hit a nearby fuel depot and killed at least 153 people, a local official told the Associated Press. The strike ignited a fire that was still burning on Tuesday. Yohanna Akol Ngor, the Abyei administration's caretaker information minister, blamed Sudan's military for Monday's attack on Amiet Market, north of Abyei town. [ 4 , 5 , 7 ]
"We have recorded 153 deaths," Akol told the AP by phone on Tuesday. He said the death toll continued to rise as the fire burned. He said the strike hit around 11 a.m. Monday and that the fuel depot supplied local businesses. "It is a horrible and shocking situation," he said. [ 4 , 5 ]
The motive for the attack was not immediately clear, and the AP could not independently verify who carried it out. Sudan's military did not respond to a request for comment. [ 4 , 5 ]
Doctors Without Borders, known by its French acronym MSF, said more than 20 wounded people were brought to Ameth Bek Hospital, where its 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. [ 4 , 5 ]
MSF called on all parties to stop attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure. South Sudan's Foreign Ministry also blamed Sudan's military, saying the attack hit multiple locations within the market and caused civilian casualties and extensive property damage. The ministry said it had summoned Sudan's ambassador to protest and urged Sudan to "refrain from any actions that endanger civilian lives and property." It called for issues concerning Abyei to be addressed through diplomatic channels. [ 5 ]
Earlier Reuters headlines gave lower figures. One said the strike in the disputed area killed dozens, a Spanish-language report said 73 people died, and a French-language report said more than 70 died, each citing a minister. A later Reuters Portuguese-language report cited an authority as saying more than 150 people were killed. The documents do not explain the difference between the figures. The report also noted that Sudan's military and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces have been fighting since April 2023. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 5 , 6 ]
Why it matters
The strike killed more than 150 people in a border region disputed by Sudan and South Sudan, and South Sudan summoned Sudan's ambassador in protest. The documents give no confirmed account of who carried out the attack or why.
Key facts
- A drone strike on a market in Abyei hit a nearby fuel depot and killed at least 153 people. [ 4 , 5 , 7 ]
- The attack on Amiet Market, north of Abyei town, took place on Monday, according to the caretaker information minister. [ 4 , 5 ]
- The strike hit around 11 a.m., the minister said. [ 5 ]
- The fire was still burning on Tuesday, and the official said the death toll continued to rise. [ 4 , 5 ]
- Doctors Without Borders (MSF) said more than 20 wounded people, including burn patients, were brought to Ameth Bek Hospital. [ 4 , 5 ]
- South Sudan's Foreign Ministry summoned Sudan's ambassador to protest. [ 4 , 5 ]
Confirmed by several sources
Still unclear
- Who carried out the attack and why. Abyei's caretaker information minister and South Sudan's Foreign Ministry blamed Sudan's military; the AP said the motive was not immediately clear and it could not independently verify who carried it out. Sudan's military did not respond to a request for comment.
- The final death toll. The official said the toll continued to rise while the fire burned. Earlier Reuters headlines cited 73 dead and more than 70 dead, citing a minister; later reports cite at least 153 and more than 150. The documents do not explain the difference.
- Doctors Without Borders said it received more than 20 wounded patients, including several critical cases, at Ameth Bek Hospital. Reported by a single source so far
- South Sudan's Foreign Ministry blamed Sudan's military and summoned Sudan's ambassador. Reported by a single source so far
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- The drone strike hit Amiet Market in Abyei on Monday, according to the caretaker information minister. [ 5 ]
- Reuters published a report headed "Drone strike in disputed sudan-south sudan area kills dozens, minister says". [ 1 ]
- Reuters published a Spanish-language report saying 73 people were killed, according to a minister. [ 2 ]
- Reuters published a French-language report of more than 70 dead, citing a minister. [ 3 ]
- The Associated Press reported at least 153 dead. [ 4 ]
- Reuters published a Portuguese-language report of more than 150 dead, citing an authority. [ 6 ]