South Sudan border travel risks rise after strike kills 153 at Abyei market

A drone strike struck a busy market in Abyei, a border region disputed by Sudan and South Sudan, on Monday, killing at least 153 people, according to a local official. The blast hit a nearby fuel depot and started a fire that was still burning on Tuesday.

Key facts

• When: the strike hit around 11 a.m. on Monday, 19 October 2026
• Where: Amiet Market, north of Abyei town, in the Abyei region
• Deaths: at least 153, with the toll still rising as the fire burned
• Casualties treated: more than 20 wounded people taken to Ameth Bek Hospital
• Blame: the Abyei administration and South Sudan's Foreign Ministry accused Sudan's military; Sudan's military did not respond to a request for comment

What happened?

Yohanna Akol Ngor, caretaker information minister for the Abyei administration, said the strike hit Amiet Market and a fuel depot that supplied local businesses. He said the number of dead continued to climb as the fire burned on, describing it as "a horrible and shocking situation" in comments reported separately.

Amiet Market is a trading hub serving the Ngok Dinka and Misseriya communities. The motive for the attack was not immediately clear, and the news agency that interviewed the local official could not independently verify who carried it out.

Who is being blamed?

Akol blamed Sudan's military for the attack. South Sudan's Foreign Ministry also blamed Sudan's military, saying the strike hit multiple locations within the market, causing civilian casualties and extensive property damage. The ministry said it had summoned Sudan's ambassador to protest and urged Sudan to refrain from any actions that endanger civilian lives and property, and called for Abyei issues to be resolved through diplomatic channels. Sudan's military did not respond to a request for comment.

What is happening with the wounded?

Doctors Without Borders, known by its French acronym MSF, said more than 20 wounded people were brought to Ameth Bek Hospital, where MSF teams were working alongside staff from South Sudan's Health Ministry. The medical activities manager at the hospital said patients with burns were also admitted. MSF called on all parties to stop attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure and voiced concern about people's ability to safely reach healthcare and other essential services.

Why is Abyei disputed?

Sudan's military and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces have been fighting since April 2023, devastating large parts of the country and threatening stability along its borders. The oil-rich Abyei region's status was left unresolved by a 2005 peace agreement that ended decades of civil war, and remained unsettled when South Sudan became independent in 2011. A proposed referendum stalled over disagreements about who could vote.

The region's majority Ngok Dinka population favours joining South Sudan, while Misseriya nomads who use its pastures favour Sudan. Abyei has also seen deadly communal violence, including fighting over land between Ngok Dinka and neighbouring Twic Dinka communities.

No travel advice, border closures or transport changes were announced in connection with the strike. Further updates on the death toll and any official response from Sudan's military are still awaited.