The Sudanese army has confirmed carrying out a drone strike on Amiet Common Market in the disputed Abyei Area, claiming it targeted fuel tankers allegedly supplying the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), as local authorities reported more than 220 deaths.
The attack occurred on Monday, October 19, hitting the market’s fuel-selling section and triggering a fire that destroyed property and left recovery efforts challenging.
Yohana Akol Ngor, caretaker information minister for the Abyei administration, was quoted by Eye Radio as saying that more than 220 people had died.
He reported that 153 bodies were buried in one mass grave and another 73 in a second grave, while smoke was still rising from the market.
A senior Sudanese military officer told the Associated Press that the army had targeted fuel tankers arriving from South Sudan that were allegedly destined for RSF forces.
The officer claimed those killed were RSF members or people involved in fuel smuggling, adding that the army did not target civilians.
However, the military’s claims about the identities of those killed and the intended recipients of the fuel have not been independently verified.
Amiet Common Market is a major trading centre serving communities in Abyei and surrounding areas.
The attack has raised concerns about civilian safety, particularly for traders and residents who depend on the market for their livelihoods.
Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), also known as Doctors Without Borders, said more than 20 wounded people had been received at Ameth Bek Hospital in Abyei town.
Some were in critical condition, while others suffered burns and required emergency treatment.
South Sudan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned Sudanese Ambassador Isam Mohamed Hassan Karar on October 19 to convey the government’s strong protest and concern over the strike.
Juba called on Sudan to refrain from actions that endanger civilian lives and property, amid concerns that the conflict in neighbouring Sudan could further threaten security in the disputed territory.
The strike comes amid Sudan’s war between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the RSF, which began in April 2023.
The fighting has devastated communities, displaced millions and increasingly involved drone attacks on strategic locations and supply routes.
Abyei, an oil-rich territory claimed by both Sudan and South Sudan, has remained disputed since South Sudan gained independence in 2011. Its final political status has yet to be resolved.
The territory borders Sudan’s conflict-affected Kordofan region, where fighting has intensified.
Its location and commercial links have raised concerns that the war could further destabilise communities along the border.
The reported death toll from the Amiet Market strike remains subject to independent verification.
The incident has renewed calls for civilian protection and urgent humanitarian assistance for those affected.
