Khartoum denies involvement in deadly Abyei strike
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Radio Tamazuj
Sudan’s Foreign Ministry denies any army involvement in the 19 October drone strike on Amiet market in the disputed Abyei region. Local authorities raised the death toll to 153, while the Rapid Support Forces-aligned government called for an international investigation, according to Radio Tamazuj.
Sudan’s Foreign Ministry on Thursday rejected any involvement by the Sudanese Armed Forces in the drone strike that hit the shared Amiet market in the disputed Abyei region on 19 October. “The Sudanese Armed Forces have absolutely no connection with this unfortunate incident,” it said, offering its condolences to the victims’ families, reports Radio Tamazuj.
Abyei authorities raised the death toll from the attack to 153, from the 73 initially announced, with 19 people injured. The victims included Sudanese, South Sudanese and foreign nationals, according to the authorities. South Sudan summoned Sudan’s ambassador to Juba after the strike.
The Peace Government, aligned with the Rapid Support Forces, petitioned the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission for the Sudan to investigate the attack and identify those responsible. Its Foreign Minister, Ammar Amoun Deldoum, said the complaint was filed on 19 October through the group’s permanent representative to the United Nations, reports Radio Tamazuj.
Khartoum’s denial comes after South Sudan summoned the Sudanese ambassador on 19 October and more than 150 deaths were reported near the Sudanese border on 22 October.
