A wave of drone attacks hit markets and urban areas in Sudan, including the disputed region of Abyei, prompting UN condemnation over civilian casualties and damage to essential services. The bombing in Abyei also opened a diplomatic front: South Sudan summoned the Sudanese ambassador to lodge a formal protest.
One of the places hit on Monday was the Amiet market, also known as Al-Na’am, about 10 kilometers from the town of Abyei. The attack sparked fires that hampered the recovery of bodies. Sudan and South Sudan jointly administer this oil-rich region, whose sovereignty has remained disputed since South Sudan’s independence in 2011.
Violence also reached Khartoum, with attacks in various parts of the capital, including near the airport. The UN reported flight cancellations and warned that the use of drones is affecting both the population and the operation of essential infrastructure.
United Nations spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric condemned the attacks and noted that children are among the civilian casualties. The organization recalled that the parties must protect the population, medical facilities, and healthcare workers in accordance with international humanitarian law.
The escalation is taking place amid the war between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, which began in April 2023. The UN estimates that 20 million people are experiencing acute hunger and warns of a growing risk of famine in parts of Darfur and Greater Kordofan.
With armed drone use increasing, Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs Rosemary DiCarlo called on external actors to stop fueling the violence and reiterated the call to resume negotiations. The humanitarian response also faces a concrete constraint: just over 43% of the funding required for Sudan’s aid plan has been secured.
Image: Landscape of the town of Abyei in November 2009. File photo: Sudan Envoy / Wikimedia Commons.
