South Sudan has accused Sudan of carrying out a devastating drone strike that killed 153 people at the Amiet market, located in the disputed oil-rich Abyei region along the border between the two countries. Authorities warn that the death toll is expected to rise as emergency workers struggle against ongoing fires to recover victims.
The attack occurred on Monday, targeting a fuel depot within the market that sources indicate had previously been utilized for supplies by Sudan's Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Eyewitnesses reported hearing multiple large explosions before flames engulfed the area, destroying buildings and vehicles and displacing approximately 8,000 residents. Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) reported treating more than 20 wounded individuals, including burn victims, at nearby Ameth Bek Hospital.
In response to the violence, South Sudan summoned the Sudanese ambassador to lodge a formal protest. The United Nations also strongly condemned the strike, noting that recent attacks have pushed the regional death toll past 250 and severely damaged critical infrastructure as Sudan's civil war, which began in 2023, continues to spill across its borders.
