A devastating drone strike targeted a bustling market in the disputed Abyei border region between Sudan and South Sudan, resulting in the deaths of more than 150 people. The explosive impact reportedly hit a local fuel depot, igniting a massive fire that proved extremely difficult for emergency responders to contain overnight.

South Sudanese officials allegedly blamed the Sudanese military for orchestrating the deadly bombardment, though they failed to provide concrete evidence to support these claims amid an ongoing civil war. In response to the escalation, South Sudan's Foreign Ministry summoned the Sudanese ambassador to lodge a formal protest, urging restraint and the protection of civilian lives and infrastructure.

Humanitarian organizations, including Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), reported that medical personnel were overwhelmed treating dozens of severely wounded patients, many suffering from critical burns at the nearby Ameth Bek hospital. Local authorities estimate that approximately 8,000 residents have been displaced by the sudden wave of violence.

The United Nations expressed deep alarm over the relentless deployment of drones across the region and the catastrophic toll it takes on critical infrastructure and civilian populations. The oil-rich territory of Abyei has remained in a precarious geopolitical limbo since the 2005 peace agreements, continuously exacerbating regional tensions and local communal conflicts.

Source: www.dw.com