By Stephen Simon
More than 150 people were reportedly killed in a drone strike on a market in the disputed Abyei region along the Sudan-South Sudan border, in another deadly escalation of the conflict engulfing the area.
Reports published on Wednesday said the attack struck a crowded market, while medical personnel treated survivors and wounded civilians.
South Sudanese authorities attributed the attack to Sudan’s army, although responsibility for the incident and the circumstances surrounding it require careful verification.
The reported death toll adds to mounting civilian casualties from drone attacks and other violence associated with Sudan’s war, which began in April 2023.
The conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces has devastated communities, displaced millions of people and severely disrupted access to food, healthcare and other essential services.
The fighting has also raised concerns about the use of increasingly sophisticated weapons in populated areas, where civilians face the risk of being caught in attacks.
The latest reported strike underscores the difficulty of protecting civilians in areas affected by overlapping political, territorial and military tensions.
Humanitarian organisations have repeatedly warned that continued attacks on civilian areas could worsen an already severe humanitarian crisis.
The reported incident is likely to intensify calls for greater protection of civilians, independent investigations into alleged violations and renewed diplomatic efforts to reduce the violence.
