A drone attack on a market in the disputed Abyei region along the Sudan-South Sudan border has killed at least 73 people and injured 19 others, according to the territory’s caretaker information minister, Yohana Akol Ngor.
Ngor accused the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) of carrying out Monday’s strike but did not provide evidence to support the allegation. Responsibility for the attack remains contested.
The strike targeted a market north of Abyei town, prompting concern over civilian safety and the potential impact on regional stability, according to South Sudan’s Foreign Ministry.
In a statement issued late Monday, the ministry condemned the incident and said South Sudan had summoned the Sudanese ambassador to formally protest the attack and communicate its concerns over the consequences for civilians and the fragile security situation in the region.
Medical teams at Ameth Bek Hospital have been attending to victims of the attack, with Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) reporting that it had treated more than 20 injured people, several of whom were in critical condition.
MSF medical activities manager Christian Lindauer said the facility had admitted patients suffering from burns and was providing emergency treatment, surgical services and wound care.
The medical organisation’s account highlights the pressure on local health facilities as they respond to the casualties from the strike.
The oil-rich Abyei region lies along the border between Sudan and South Sudan and remains a disputed territory claimed by both countries. It is jointly administered and has experienced repeated violence involving rival ethnic communities and armed groups.
The area has also witnessed attacks against international peacekeepers. Last year, a drone strike on a United Nations base killed at least six Bangladeshi peacekeepers and injured eight others, according to Bangladesh’s armed forces.
The latest attack has renewed concerns about the security of civilians and the vulnerability of communities in a region already affected by longstanding territorial disputes and instability.
The incident comes amid Sudan’s devastating conflict, which erupted in April 2023 when fighting broke out between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
The war has spread across large parts of Sudan, involving local militias and attracting foreign involvement while destroying infrastructure, displacing communities and disrupting access to essential services.
The United Nations has described the resulting humanitarian emergency as the world’s worst humanitarian crisis, with millions of people affected by displacement, hunger and limited access to healthcare.
Although the full circumstances surrounding Monday’s drone strike remain unclear, the reported death toll and injuries underscore the risks facing civilians in Abyei as instability continues across the wider region.
Investigations and further clarification are needed to establish responsibility for the attack.
