The United Nations Security Council on Friday called for an investigation into drone strikes in Abyei, a disputed region between Sudan and South Sudan, and strongly condemned the attacks near a market and the town of Todach, according to a statement issued by the UN's most powerful body and reported by the German news agency dpa. The Council demanded a complete, transparent and swift investigation so those responsible can be brought to justice, and expressed its deepest condolences to the families of the victims.

Source: dpa via Pune Media, Oct 24, 2026

Local authorities said at least 150 people were killed in the strikes on Monday, October 19. The United Nations has so far confirmed at least 80 deaths, with others still missing, and the final toll has not yet been confirmed because the UN Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) is still carrying out verification work on the ground. The attacks also sparked large fires, most of which were extinguished by UNISFA, the United Nations said. The two tolls — at least 150 reported by local authorities and at least 80 confirmed by the UN — are reported here separately rather than merged.

Source: dpa via Pune Media, Oct 24, 2026

The Security Council stressed that Abyei must remain a demilitarized zone free of armed forces, with the only exception being UNISFA, and urged all actors on the ground to cease military operations. It emphasised that international humanitarian law expressly prohibits attacks directed against the civilian population and their property, and warned that such actions could constitute war crimes. A second report of the Council's statement, carried by Democrata, gave the same demands: a swift and thorough investigation, respect for humanitarian law by all parties, and concern that the number of fatalities may continue to rise.

Source: Democrata (reporting the Security Council statement), Oct 24, 2026

Responsibility for the strikes remains disputed. South Sudan's government blamed the Sudanese army for the strikes, but the army denied responsibility, dpa reported. Local media quoted a government spokesman in the resource-rich region as saying tanker trucks had been targeted in an area of the market where Sudanese traders were operating. No party's claim about who carried out the attack is presented here as established fact. Abyei's status remains unresolved since South Sudan gained independence from Sudan in 2011, and a UN peacekeeping mission has been stationed there since 2011. Sudan's army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have been fighting for control of Sudan since April 2023, a civil war the UN says has also destabilised the disputed border region. The UN human rights office (OHCHR) says at least 1,120 civilians were killed by drone strikes in Sudan in the first half of this year alone, according to dpa. Sources: dpa via Pune Media, and Democrata reporting the Security Council statement.

Source: dpa via Pune Media, Oct 24, 2026