JUBA – South Sudan has summoned Sudan’s ambassador to protest a drone attack on Amiet Market in the disputed Abyei Area that the government blamed on the Sudanese Armed Forces.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation said Undersecretary Agnes Adlino Orifa Oswaha summoned Sudanese Ambassador Isam Mohamed Hassan Karar on Monday to convey the government’s strong protest over the attack.
In a statement, the ministry said the strike caused civilian deaths, injuries and extensive property damage, and called for measures to prevent further attacks and avoid escalating tensions in Abyei.
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation summoned the Ambassador of the Republic of the Sudan to convey the Government’s strong protest and deep concern regarding the attack and its implications for the security of civilians and the stability of the Abyei Area,” the ministry said in an earlier statement on the incident.
The government condemned the attack, extended condolences to the families of those killed and wished the injured a speedy recovery.
It urged Sudan to refrain from actions that endanger civilian lives and property and called for issues concerning Abyei to be addressed through established diplomatic channels and dialogue mechanisms.
Abyei officials said at least 73 people were killed and 19 wounded in Monday’s attack, warning that the death toll could rise as recovery efforts continued.
Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) separately reported receiving more than 20 wounded people at its supported Ameth Bek Hospital, including patients with critical injuries and burns.
Amiet Market, located in Ameth-Aguok County, is a major trading centre serving the Ngok Dinka and Misseriya communities, as well as people displaced by the war in Sudan.
Abyei remains disputed between Sudan and South Sudan. Its final status has remained unresolved since South Sudan gained independence in 2011.