At least 73 people lost their lives after drones hit a market in the disputed Abyei region along the South Sudan-Sudan border on Monday, according to the caretaker information minister for Abyei, who accused the Sudanese army of launching the strike.

The minister offered no supporting proof for the accusation.

Witness Ahmed Wadi, quoted in reports, described helping to bury 50 bodies, including that of his brother Mohamed.

A medical contact indicated that 30 individuals later succumbed to injuries from the attack.

The source added that 80 people died in the strike on Al-Dibab while a separate drone hit on Al-Mujlad wounded four others now receiving care. This publication could not confirm the figures provided.

Oil-rich area with disputed claims

Abyei remains an oil-rich zone under joint administration by South Sudan and Sudan, both of which claim sovereignty. The area sees repeated violence often tied to ethnic rivalries or militia activity.

Yohana Akol Ngor, the caretaker information minister, told Reuters that around 73 people died and 19 suffered wounds from drones fired the previous day by Sudanese forces.

In the prior year, at least six Bangladeshi peacekeepers died and eight more were hurt in a drone attack by armed separatists on a UN site in Abyei.

South Sudan's foreign ministry stated late Monday that drones struck a market north of Abyei town but gave no exact casualty count.

The ministry summoned the Sudanese ambassador to register strong protest over the incident and its effects on civilian safety and regional stability.

Medical charity MSF reported treating more than 20 wounded patients at nearby Ameth Bek Hospital, including critical burn cases, and providing surgery along with emergency support.

Sudan has endured conflict since April 2023 between its armed forces and the Rapid Support Forces paramilitary group. The fighting has drawn in militias and outside actors, wrecked much of the country, and produced what the United Nations calls the globe's worst humanitarian emergency.