Sudanese drone strike on market kills more than 150

South Sudan has accused Sudan of carrying out a series of lethal drone strikes that killed more than 150 people at a market as Sudan's war spills across its borders.

The attack on Monday targeted the Amiet market in the oil-rich Abyei region, disputed territory nestled between the two countries.

Abyei's caretaker minister of information, Yohana Akol Ngor, said 153 had been killed and that the death toll was likely to rise. He said some bodies had been burned to ashes.

"The fire is still burning, so the recovery process ‌of the dead ones is still continuing. The situation is terrible," Mr Ngor said.

As residents returned to inspect the damage, flames still billowed from one building and charred vehicles could be seen next to destroyed buildings.

Sudan has been in the grip of a civil war since 2023, but escalating drone strikes between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have increasingly threatened the security of neighbouring countries.

The United Nations condemned Monday's drone strike, which took the death toll from attacks in recent days to more than 250.

Three diplomatic sources, an aid ‌worker and an expert on the conflict told Reuters the strike hit a fuel depot in the market. The sources said the depot had been used in the past by Sudan's RSF for supplies.

The RSF and Sudan's armed forces did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Struggle to retrieve bodies

An eyewitness said he heard five large explosions ‌before the fuel depot caught fire.

"People started evacuating the casualties. ‌They had injuries from shrapnel on their stomach and legs … in one site, I saw 28 bodies that were burnt," he said, asking not to be named for safety reasons.

The witness said he did not see Sudan's RSF or other uniformed fighters in the market, where goods such as sugar, flour and biscuits are sold.

Mr Ngor said about 8,000 people were displaced by the attack and that the fires were hindering emergency workers efforts to retrieve dead bodies. 

Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) said it was treating more than 20 wounded, some with burns, at the nearby Ameth Bek Hospital.

Photographs shared by MSF show bandaged patients lying on the floor.

UN condemns attack

South Sudan's foreign ministry said it had summoned the Sudanese ambassador over the attack.

South Sudan's government says it has not taken sides in its neighbour's civil war, but experts say Abyei has been established as a crucial transit point for RSF logistics.

Monday's drone strikes and escalating attacks elsewhere drew condemnation from the UN.

"We remain alarmed by the relentless drone attacks across Sudan, as well as the damage they are causing to critical infrastructure," spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said.

"These attacks are taking a devastating toll on communities already struggling ‌with the consequences of more than three years of conflict."

Reuters