Residents in the Abyei Special Administrative Area took to the streets on Tuesday morning to condemn the aerial attacks by the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) on Amiet Market zone on Monday morning that killed over seventy and wounded an unidentified number of people.
Officials said the attacks targeted the center and southern parts of the market, as well as its northern gate, causing heavy casualties and extensive damage. Some of the bodies recovered had been burned beyond recognition.
Speaking to Radio Tamazuj on Tuesday, Yohana Akol, the caretaker information minister in Abyei Special Administrative Area, said the protests were to condemn the drone attacks.
“The protests are organized by the civil society organizations, youth, chiefs, women, and the purpose is to condemn the air attacks that were carried out by the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) in which many people lost their lives and many were wounded,” he said.
For her part, Rose Monytoch, a local civil society representative, said they were demonstrating to protest the aerial attacks on innocent people.
“The reason behind our demonstration today (Tuesday) is to condemn the drone attacks that happened in the Amiet Market where many people were killed, and several were wounded,” she said.
She urged the armed groups to respect the status of Abyei Special Administration as an arm-free zone.
Meanwhile, Bulabek Deng Kuol, the paramount chief of the Ngok Dinka of Abyei, urged the international community, African Union, IGAD and the Government of South Sudan to consider the plight of the Abyei People.
“We wanted to urge the International Community, African Community, United Nations Peace and Security Council, IGAD and the Government of South Sudan to consider the humanity and welfare of the people of Abyei,” he said.
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