Abyei Market Drone Strike Toll Rises to 153, Fire Still Burns

Follow-up: This story is developing. Our earlier report covered the initial strike on Amiet Market, when authorities put the death toll at 53.

The reported death toll from Monday's drone strike on Amiet Market in the disputed Abyei region has climbed sharply to at least 153, Abyei's caretaker information minister said Tuesday, as a fire at a nearby fuel depot continued to burn a full day after the attack. The same minister later told local radio that more than 220 people had been killed — a figure international agencies have not confirmed.

Yohana Akol Ngor, Abyei's caretaker information minister, told Reuters and The Associated Press by phone on Tuesday that the toll had "more than doubled" from the 73 deaths reported a day earlier. "We have recorded 153 deaths," Ngor told the AP, adding that the number was still rising as the fire burned.

Abyei drone strike toll rises as fires hamper recovery

The toll has moved with grim speed. Local officials first reported about 53 dead; by early Tuesday it was 73. Then Ngor told Reuters the count had passed 153 — and told Eye Radio on Tuesday afternoon that more than 220 had been killed, describing roughly 153 burials in one mass grave and 73 in another. That highest figure is single-sourced: Reuters reported Ngor provided no evidence for his accusation against Sudan's military, and the AP could not independently verify who carried out the attack.

Ngor said the fires ignited by the strike made it difficult to retrieve bodies and that recovery work was continuing. Witness accounts suggest one of the sites hit was a fuel depot supplying local businesses, which triggered a massive blaze that crews struggled to contain overnight. The fire was still burning on Tuesday, more than 24 hours after the strike.

According to the minister, the strike hit at around 11 a.m. on Monday. "It is a horrible and shocking situation," he told the AP.

Who is blamed — and what is verified

Officials in Abyei and South Sudan blame Sudan's military for the attack. South Sudan's Foreign Ministry said the drone struck multiple locations around the market, causing civilian casualties and extensive property damage, and announced it had summoned Sudan's ambassador to protest. The ministry urged Sudan to "refrain from any actions that endanger civilian lives and property" and called for Abyei's issues to be addressed through diplomatic channels.

But neither party has produced evidence. Reuters reported that Ngor provided no evidence to support the accusation. The AP said it could not independently verify who carried out the strike, and that the motive was not immediately clear. Sudan's military did not respond to the agencies' requests for comment. UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said Tuesday the UN was "alarmed by the relentless drone attacks across Sudan," which were "taking a devastating toll on communities already struggling with the consequences of more than three years of conflict."

Hospitals overwhelmed, thousands displaced

Médecins Sans Frontières said its staff were treating about 20 wounded people at the nearby Ameth Bek hospital, alongside South Sudan's Health Ministry staff. "So far we have received over 20 patients, including several critical cases. Patients with burns were also admitted," said Dr. Christian Lindauer, MSF's medical activities manager.

MSF called on all parties to stop attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure. Ngor said the bombing had displaced around 8,000 people — a sharp reminder that Amiet Market is a lifeline for communities on both sides of the disputed border.

The war between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces began in April 2023.

Why Abyei keeps turning deadly

The oil-rich Abyei region's status was left unresolved by the 2005 peace agreement that ended decades of civil war, and again when South Sudan became independent in 2011. A planned referendum never happened over disagreements on who could vote, leaving Abyei in political limbo under a UN interim security force for 15 years.

The region's majority Ngok Dinka population favors joining South Sudan, while Misseriya nomads who use its pastures favor Sudan. The market serves as a trading hub for both communities, and the region has also seen deadly intercommunal violence, particularly between the Ngok Dinka and neighboring Twic Dinka communities.

The wider war has poured fuel on the fire. In May, the UN Interim Security Force for Abyei warned that the RSF's presence in the region had exposed residents to additional danger. Sudan's military has alleged the RSF operates from Abyei — a claim local officials dispute. Both armies have deployed drones extensively, with civilian areas increasingly caught in the crossfire.

Why it matters

The scale of Monday's strike is striking: a single attack on a civilian market producing a reported toll of at least 153 — and it hit territory whose sovereignty is still contested. If the Sudanese military was responsible, as South Sudan claims without evidence, it would mark a dangerous expansion of the war into the region policed under an international interim arrangement.

The displacement figure also lands on a humanitarian system already stretched by more than three years of war.

What happens next

Recovery work continues at Amiet Market, and the toll could rise further once the fuel depot fire is fully out. South Sudan has lodged its protest, and the UN is now publicly on record. The unanswered questions: who launched the drones, whether the RSF really operates from the area, and whether anyone will face consequences for striking a civilian market.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many people were killed in the Abyei market drone strike?

Abyei's caretaker information minister Yohana Akol Ngor told Reuters and the AP on Tuesday that at least 153 people had been killed — "more than doubled" from the 73 reported Monday. He separately told Eye Radio on Tuesday afternoon that more than 220 had died, describing burials in two mass graves. The 153 figure is confirmed by two agencies; the 220 figure is single-sourced and unverified.

When did the Amiet Market strike happen?

The drone strike hit Amiet Market, north of Abyei town, at around 11 a.m. on Monday, October 19, 2026, according to Abyei's information minister. One of the sites hit was a fuel depot serving local businesses, which ignited a massive fire that was still burning the following day.

Who carried out the Abyei drone strike?

No one has credibly confirmed this. Abyei's administration and South Sudan's Foreign Ministry blame Sudan's military, but provided no evidence. The AP said it could not independently verify the perpetrator, and Sudan's military did not respond to requests for comment. The motive also remains unclear.

Where is Abyei and why is it disputed?

Abyei is an oil-rich region on the Sudan–South Sudan border whose status was left unresolved by the 2005 peace agreement and again when South Sudan became independent in 2011. A planned referendum never happened. Its majority Ngok Dinka population favors joining South Sudan, while Misseriya nomads favor Sudan, and a UN interim security force has policed it for 15 years.

How many people were displaced by the attack?

About 8,000 people have been displaced by the bombing, according to Abyei's caretaker information minister. MSF said its staff were treating around 20 wounded people, including several critical cases and patients with burns, at the nearby Ameth Bek hospital alongside South Sudanese health ministry staff.

Is the Amiet Market fire still burning?

Yes — witness accounts and the minister said the fuel depot fire triggered by Monday's strike was difficult to contain overnight and was still burning on Tuesday. Recovery teams said the fires made it difficult to retrieve bodies, which is why the death toll kept rising through the day.

By GlobalDeskNews Staff | October 20, 2026