Drone strike on Abyei market: South Sudan summons Sudan's ambassador
Fuel depots and tankers were reportedly hit. Juba reports civilian casualties; reports of dozens dead are not officially confirmed. Khartoum has not commented.
Archive image · Photo: Sudan Envoy / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0 (cropped and resized)
South Sudan summoned Sudan's ambassador in Juba after a drone strike on a market in the disputed Abyei region, voicing “strong protest and deep concern”. The drones, suspected to belong to the Sudanese army, reportedly hit a market north of Abyei town on Monday. The targets were said to be fuel depots and trucks carrying fuel from South Sudan to Darfur.
Juba said the strike caused “civilian casualties, injuries, and significant property damage”. Reports of 73 civilians killed have not been officially confirmed, according to Sudan Tribune. South Sudan urged Khartoum to avoid endangering civilians and to raise Abyei issues through diplomatic channels. The Sudanese government had not commented.
The market is a major hub for fuel, food, building materials and medicine moving from South Sudan to Kordofan and Darfur. Trade there has grown since fighting between the army and the RSF began in April 2023.