Market strike in disputed Sudan-South Sudan area kills over 150
A drone attack on a market in the Abyei region killed at least 153 people, according to a local official. The strike is part of a recent wave of attacks that has pushed the death toll above 250. Sudan’s military did not respond to a request for comment, while South Sudan blamed it for the attack.
Abyei is an oil-producing border area claimed by both Sudan and South Sudan and administered jointly. The affected market draws Ngok Dinka and Misseriya communities; the former largely seek union with South Sudan, while Misseriya herders lean toward Sudan. A local Abyei official attributed Monday’s strike to Sudan’s army without offering evidence, and South Sudan’s foreign ministry also blamed Sudan’s military and summoned its ambassador.
A witness described five blasts and a nearby fuel store catching fire, with victims suffering shrapnel wounds and burns; at one location, 28 bodies were burned. MSF said more than 20 injured patients reached Ameth Bek hospital, some critically hurt. Recent strikes elsewhere in Kordofan and Nyala have added to a toll exceeding 250.
The attack may deepen fear and displacement around Abyei, where civilians already face contested authority and communal tensions. Families of the dead and wounded could struggle to access care, while traders and herders may avoid markets, disrupting livelihoods and food supplies. Because Abyei’s status remains disputed, such strikes could harden distrust between communities and complicate local peace efforts, though immediate effects may depend on whether violence continues and aid can reach survivors.