Drone strike on market in disputed Sudan border region kills at least 153

A drone strike carried out by Sudan's military on a market in Abyei, a disputed border region, resulted in at least 153 casualties on Monday. The attack targeted a nearby fuel depot, which supplies local businesses, according to a local official. Yohanna Akol Ngor, the caretaker information minister for Abyei, blamed Sudan's military for the incident and said the death toll was still rising due to ongoing fires.

The Sudanese military claimed the drone strike was targeting fuel tankers bound for the Rapid Support Forces, a paramilitary group, and emphasized that they do not target civilians. The UN secretary general condemned the drone attacks near Amiet Market and Todach, stating that dozens of civilians, including women and children, were killed and many others injured.

The UN Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) provided emergency medical treatment, firefighting capabilities, and a quick reaction force to prevent the fire from spreading. South Sudan's Foreign Ministry summoned Sudan's ambassador to protest the attack, urging Sudan to refrain from actions endangering civilian lives and property.

The attack occurred outside the demilitarized zone along the border with South Sudan. Since April 2023, Sudan's military and the Rapid Support Forces have been engaged in fighting, causing widespread devastation and threatening stability along the country's borders. The region's unresolved status since South Sudan's independence in 2011 has led to disagreements over voting rights and land use between the Ngok Dinka and Misseriya communities.