Deadly drone strike in Abyei sparks diplomatic row between Juba and Khartoum

Deadly drone strike in Abyei sparks diplomatic row between Juba and Khartoum - South Sudanese refugees gather at a UNHCR collection centre on the South Sudan border in Egelo, Uganda. (Photo: UNHCR /Will Swanson)

The attack struck the Al-Naam market (also known as Amiet), north of Abyei town, targeting fuel depots and trucks transporting fuel from South Sudan to Sudan’s war-torn Darfur region.

South Sudan summoned Sudan’s ambassador to Juba, Essam Mohamed Karrar, on Monday to deliver a formal protest following a deadly drone strike on a bustling market in the disputed Abyei region.

The attack struck the Al-Naam market (also known as Amiet), north of Abyei town, targeting fuel depots and trucks transporting fuel from South Sudan to Sudan’s war-torn Darfur region. Drones suspected to belong to the Sudanese army carried out the strike.

In a statement, South Sudan’s Foreign Ministry conveyed its "strong protest and deep concern" over the attack, warning that the strike severely threatens civilian security and the fragile stability of the Abyei region - a territory claimed by both Sudan and South Sudan.

The human toll

The strike drew swift condemnation from the United Nations. On Tuesday, a spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General, Stephane Dujarric, confirmed that dozens of civilians - including women and children - were killed in the attack, with many others injured.

The UN noted that many people remain missing and warned that the death toll is likely to rise. Dujarric did not explicitly identify the perpetrator of the strike in his statement.

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The strike highlights how the brutal war in Sudan is increasingly spilling across its borders and into disputed territories.

Since the conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) erupted in April 2023, commercial activity at the Al-Naam market has surged.

The market has become a critical logistical hub for fuel and goods flowing from South Sudan into Darfur, a region devastated by the war. By targeting the fuel convoys, the strike appears to be an attempt to choke off supply lines to the RSF.

For Juba, the strike is a stark violation of its sovereignty and a threat to a region already plagued by unresolved political and territorial disputes since South Sudan’s independence in 2011.