Reported by:
Cherry Meigh Timbol
News Content Editor
Published October 24, 2026
A drone strike on a market in the disputed Abyei region along the Sudan–South Sudan border killed at least 153 people, according to local officials, as Sudan’s civil war continues to produce deadly attacks and increasing regional tensions.
The attack struck Amiet Market on October 19, setting a nearby fuel depot ablaze and damaging commercial structures. The casualty figure was reported by Abyei officials and carried by The Associated Press and Reuters. The final death toll remained uncertain as recovery operations continued.
Dispute over the target
Abyei officials and South Sudan’s government blamed Sudan’s military for the attack. A Sudanese military officer told The Associated Press that the military had targeted fuel tankers allegedly supplying the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), claiming those killed were RSF members or people involved in fuel smuggling. The Associated Press said it could not independently verify the military’s account of the target or the identities of those killed.
The strike also drew attention to fuel supply networks that reportedly support RSF operations. Reuters reported that Amiet Market had served as a fuel trading hub, with supplies moving through South Sudan and Abyei toward areas where the RSF operates. The extent of the involvement of local officials in these networks has not been independently established.
United Nations and South Sudan respond
The United Nations condemned drone attacks near Amiet Market and Todach, reporting that civilians, including women and children, had been killed or injured. The UN Interim Security Force for Abyei deployed medical personnel and emergency teams to assist the wounded, support evacuations and help contain fires.
Doctors Without Borders said its medical teams and South Sudanese health workers treated more than 20 injured people at Ameth Bek Hospital, including patients with serious burns.
South Sudan summoned Sudan’s ambassador following the attack. Its government called for measures to prevent further civilian casualties and urged that disputes involving Abyei be addressed through diplomatic channels.
Sudan’s civil war continues
Sudan’s war began in April 2023 when fighting erupted between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the RSF, following a breakdown in relations between the country’s military leadership and the paramilitary group.
The conflict has spread across multiple regions, including Darfur and Kordofan, with both sides relying increasingly on drone strikes. Separate attacks reported in October killed dozens of people near markets and transport hubs in West Kordofan, according to local sources and conflict monitors. Responsibility for some of those attacks has not been independently confirmed.
The war has displaced millions of people and severely disrupted food production, trade and humanitarian access. The United Nations has warned that continuing violence, drought and declining agricultural output are worsening food insecurity in several parts of the country.
