A drone strike hit Amiet Market in the disputed Abyei Area
on Monday morning, dropping seven bombs on the market’s northern section, where
fuel is sold, according to the area’s caretaker information minister.
Yohana Akol Ngor, spokesperson for the Abyei administration,
said the attack occurred at around 11 a.m. South Sudan time and targeted fuel
tankers in an area occupied by Sudanese traders.
Akol accused the Sudanese army of carrying out the attack,
saying the bombs caused a large fire, casualties and property damage. The Radio
Community could not independently verify the allegation.
“The drone dropped seven bombs in the northern checkpoint of
the market where the fuel is sold. These bombs have caused casualties, loss of
lives, and property destruction. The target is the fuel market,” Akol said.
He said authorities were still assessing the damage and
counting casualties. The number of people killed or injured was not immediately
available.
Akol urged residents to remain indoors while the
administration monitored the situation.
Amiet Market, located in Ameth-Aguok County, is a major
trading centre serving the Ngok Dinka and Misseriya communities. It also serves
people displaced by the war in Sudan.
The incident comes amid renewed political tensions over
Abyei, which is claimed by both Sudan and South Sudan. South Sudan plans to
include the disputed area in its December 2026 elections, a move opposed by
Sudan as the territory’s final status remains unresolved.
On Saturday, Al-Khair Abdullah Idris Abu Muridat, Sudan’s
newly appointed head of the Abyei Joint Oversight Committee, reaffirmed
Khartoum’s claim to the territory and called for a peaceful resolution under
agreements signed by the two countries in 2011.
Abyei’s final status has remained unresolved since South
Sudan gained independence in 2011. A referendum intended to determine whether
the territory would join Sudan or South Sudan has not been held, partly because
the two countries disagree over voter eligibility.
The United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei
(UNISFA), established in 2011, monitors security under interim arrangements
intended to keep the area demilitarised.
The attack follows deadly clashes at Amiet Market on
September 15, when UNISFA reported that 26 people were killed and 82 injured.
The mission subsequently reinforced security around the market.
