More Than 150 Reported Killed in Drone Strike on Abyei Market
publishers 49articles 68first reported 9 Oct, 17:19 UTCdeveloping since 9 Oct · 22 editions
At least 153 people were reported killed after a Sudanese military drone strike hit Amiet Market in the disputed Abyei border region on Monday, October 19, according to local officials cited by France 24 and the Associated Press. Dozens were injured, and a fire continued burning at a nearby fuel depot on Tuesday.
Yohanna Akol Ngor, the Abyei administration’s caretaker information minister, blamed Sudan’s military and said the toll was still rising. Earlier figures from Abyei authorities put the death toll at 53, with at least 27 wounded, after what they described as 22 munitions striking multiple locations in the market.
A senior Sudanese military officer acknowledged that the army carried out a drone strike, telling the Associated Press that it targeted fuel tankers arriving from South Sudan that were allegedly bound for the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces. The officer spoke anonymously because he was not authorized to comment publicly.
South Sudan summoned Sudan’s ambassador and condemned the attack. Abyei is claimed by both countries and hosts communities including Ngok Dinka residents, South Sudanese returnees and Sudanese refugees.
The strike followed other deadly attacks in Sudan. Local groups reported that an army drone strike killed at least 80 people in Al-Dabab, West Kordofan, on Sunday, while drones attributed to the RSF targeted Khartoum airport on Monday. Falling drones and anti-aircraft fire there reportedly killed four civilians, including three children. Sudan’s army and the RSF have been at war since April 2023.
HOW THIS STORY WAS MADE
Written from 8 articles, 4 with the publisher's own text; 7 independent newsrooms once syndicated copies count as one; this version written 312 h after the record first saw the story; the editor kept it as written.
- Publishers
- 49
- Source articles
- 68
- Given to the writer
- 8, 4 with the article's own text
- Independent newsrooms
- 7
- This version written
- 312 h after the record first saw the story
- Second model (editor)
- kept as written
- Publication gate
- passed
- Human review
- none
WHAT THE EDITOR DID
The second model checked the writer's draft against the same sources and published it as written.
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