According to local authorities, the drone attack struck the Amiet Market in Abyei, near a petrol station. The explosion was so powerful that flames spread throughout the market, sending towering plumes of fire into the air and triggering panic among people in the area. Several people sustained severe injuries in the attack.
Local authorities have accused the Sudanese army of carrying out the drone strike. Yohanna Akol Ngor, acting information minister in Abyei, said on Tuesday that the Sudanese army was responsible for the attack, although he did not provide any evidence to support the allegation.
South Sudan's Foreign Ministry has also blamed the Sudanese army for the strike. The ministry said several locations within the market were targeted, resulting in civilian deaths and extensive property damage.
The attack has raised further concerns about the safety of civilians in the disputed region, particularly as the conflict in neighbouring Sudan continues to intensify.
Sudanese Ambassador Summoned
The attack has also prompted a diplomatic response, with South Sudan's Foreign Ministry holding the Sudanese army responsible for the incident. The ministry said the strike targeted multiple locations in the market, killing civilians and causing widespread damage to property.
The incident has renewed concerns over the growing threat posed by drone attacks in conflict-affected areas, where civilians remain vulnerable to strikes on populated locations.
Sudanese Army and RSF Have Been Fighting Since 2023
Fighting between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has continued since April 2023, escalating into a civil war.
Last year, paramilitary forces carried out a drone strike that destroyed a mosque in Al-Fashir, Sudan, killing 43 people. The attack was reported on September 19, 2025. The increasing frequency of drone strikes in recent months has further heightened the danger to civilians caught in the conflict.
The latest attack in Abyei adds to concerns over civilian casualties as the fighting continues, with markets and other populated areas facing the threat of deadly strikes.
48 Killed in Islamic State-Linked Attack in Mali
Meanwhile, an attack by a group linked to the Islamic State (IS) in the Menaka region of eastern Mali over the weekend killed 48 people, including children and elderly residents.
According to the Associated Press (AP), a lawmaker said on Tuesday that Islamic State-linked militants carried out the attack in the Menaka area over the weekend, leaving 48 people dead.
The reported casualties in Mali, alongside the deadly drone strike in Abyei, highlight the toll that ongoing violence is taking on civilians in different parts of Africa.
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