Sudan army drone raid on Abyei market leaves at least 153 dead

On October 20, Sudan's military conducted a drone strike on a market and fuel depot in the disputed Abyei region, resulting in at least 153 deaths, according to South Sudanese officials. This marks a significant increase in the death toll from aerial attacks in the area, with the cumulative count surpassing 250. Abyei's acting Information Minister, Yohana Akol Ngor, reported that the initial death toll of 73 had since risen to 153, with the total expected to rise further as recovery efforts continue.

The aftermath of the raid was catastrophic, with numerous victims burned beyond recognition and scenes of immense devastation. Charred vehicle remains, collapsed merchant stalls, and incinerated masonry were scattered across the streets, accompanied by plumes of black smoke and flames billowing from collapsed buildings. Eyewitness footage and ground reports corroborated the intensity of the destruction.

Ngor attributed the attack to the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), though he did not provide concrete evidence to substantiate his claim. Multiple diplomatic sources, a humanitarian aid worker, and a regional conflict analyst all confirmed to Reuters that the airstrike targeted a fuel storage depot within the market area. This depot had previously been utilized by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) for resupplying their operational units.

The Abyei region, rich in oil-producing fields, has long been a volatile border zone between Sudan and South Sudan. Despite being governed under a special joint administrative arrangement between Khartoum and Juba, the area has frequently experienced lethal communal clashes between competing ethnic groups and rival armed factions. Sudan's civil war, which began in April 2023, has driven approximately 14 million people from their homes, making it the world's worst displacement crisis.