A drone strike targeting the Amiet market, located north of Abyei town, has resulted in the deaths of 153 people, according to local officials. Yohanna Akol Ngor, the caretaker information minister for the Abyei administration, attributed the Monday attack to the Sudanese military, though he did not provide evidence to support the claim. The Sudanese military did not respond to requests for comment regarding the incident.
Witnesses at the scene reported hearing five large explosions that ignited a nearby fuel depot. One witness, who requested anonymity for safety, described the aftermath as harrowing, noting that many victims suffered shrapnel injuries to their legs and stomachs. The witness reported seeing 28 bodies that had been burned at one of the strike sites.
The impact of this strike pushes the total number of deaths from attacks in recent days to more than 250, highlighting the extreme lethality of the war in Sudan, which first erupted in April 2023 between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Medical teams, including those from Doctors Without Borders (MSF) and the South Sudan health ministry, have been treating the wounded at Ameth Bek hospital. Dr. Christian Lindauer, MSF’s medical activities manager, confirmed that over 20 patients, including several in critical condition and others suffering from burns, were admitted for treatment.
South Sudan’s foreign ministry has officially blamed the Sudanese military for the strike, announcing that it summoned the Sudanese ambassador to lodge a formal protest. The ministry urged Sudan to avoid actions that endanger civilian lives and property. Abyei, an oil-rich region that both Sudan and South Sudan claim, is jointly administered and borders the Kordofan region, which has emerged as a central theater of the ongoing war. The Amiet market serves as a vital trading hub for both the Ngok Dinka and Misseriya communities. The region’s majority Ngok Dinka population favors joining South Sudan, while Misseriya nomads who use its pastures favor Sudan. Abyei has also experienced deadly communal violence, including fighting over land between Ngok Dinka and neighboring Twic Dinka communities.
This latest violence follows a series of deadly attacks on markets in the region. On Sunday, a drone strike near a market in West Kordofan state killed 80 people, most of whom were commuters. Additionally, a market attack in the RSF stronghold of Nyala on Friday resulted in 23 deaths and 44 injuries. MSF has issued a call for all parties to cease attacks on civilians and infrastructure, citing grave concerns over the ability of the population to safely access essential services and healthcare.
