Sudan Army Accused of Deadly Drone Strike on Abyei Market, Death Toll Reaches 153

A drone strike targeting a market in the disputed Abyei region, allegedly carried out by Sudan's military, has resulted in the deaths of at least 153 people, according to a local official. This attack has pushed the total death toll from a series of recent strikes to over 250, marking one of the most devastating weeks in the ongoing civil war that has extended beyond Sudan's borders.

Sudan's civil war, which began in April 2023, pits the Sudanese Armed Forces against the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The conflict has triggered a severe humanitarian crisis and drawn in regional militias and international actors.

Yohana Ngor, the caretaker information minister in Abyei, reported that the number of fatalities from Monday's attack on the market had climbed to 153, up from an earlier figure of 73, and indicated that the toll was expected to rise further. "The fire is still burning. So the recovery process of the dead ones is still continuing. The situation is terrible," Mr. Ngor stated to Reuters, adding that some bodies had been completely incinerated.

Visuals from the scene on Tuesday depicted charred and mangled wreckage of vehicles and buildings, with flames still emanating from one structure as residents surveyed the destruction. Mr. Ngor attributed the attack to the army but offered no substantiating evidence. However, three diplomatic sources, an aid worker, and a conflict expert informed Reuters that the strike had impacted a fuel depot located within the market. These diplomatic sources further indicated that the depot had previously been utilized by the RSF to provision its forces. The RSF has not yet issued a response to requests for comment.

Abyei, a territory rich in oil, has been a point of contention since South Sudan gained independence from Sudan in 2011, with both nations claiming sovereignty. The region shares a border with Sudan's Kordofan region, which has become a significant theater of operations in the war. Officials within Sudan's military-led government have asserted that the RSF operates in parts of Abyei, a claim that Mr. Ngor has refuted. In May, the UN Interim Security Force for Abyei issued a warning regarding an increase in insecurity due to the RSF's presence in the area, noting that delays in finalizing Abyei's status have endangered civilians and UN personnel.

The United Nations has strongly condemned the series of drone attacks in Abyei and other Sudanese territories, as confirmed by spokesman Stephane Dujarric. "We remain alarmed by the relentless drone attacks across Sudan, as well as the damage they are causing to critical infrastructure – these attacks are taking a devastating toll on communities already struggling with the consequences of more than three years of conflict," Mr. Dujarric commented from New York.