Drone strike on a market in West Kordofan, Sudan, kills at least 80 people

Summary

A drone strike near a market in al-Dibab, a town in Sudan's southern West Kordofan state, killed at least 80 people on Sunday evening, mostly commuters catching rides home, according to a witness and a medical source. A witness said the drone struck a transport hub twice and that 50 bodies were buried by people who helped, including one of his relatives. France 24 describes the strike as one of the deadliest single attacks since the Sudan war began in 2023. The Straits Times reports a different location and toll: South Sudanese officials said Sudan's military carried out drone strikes that hit a market in the disputed Abyei region, killing over 150 people, and one report cites the caretaker information minister for the region giving at least 73 killed and accusing Sudan's army of the attack. The reports differ on location and toll and have not been reconciled by the sources here. A separate drone attack in the capital, Khartoum, on Monday killed three children and other civilians, a different event that is not part of this story.

Timeline

1. France 24

   19 Oct 2026, 14:00 UTCSource ↗

   France 24 reports that at least 80 people were killed in a drone strike near a market in southern West Kordofan state, citing a medical source and a witness, and describes it as one of the deadliest single attacks since the Sudan war erupted in 2023.

2. The Guardian

   19 Oct 2026, 14:45 UTCSource ↗

   The Guardian reports that a drone strike near a market in al-Dibab, West Kordofan state, on Sunday evening killed 80 people, mostly commuters, and cites a witness who said the drone struck a transport hub twice and that he helped bury 50 bodies.

3. The Straits Times

   20 Oct 2026, 05:56 UTCSource ↗

   The Straits Times reports that South Sudanese officials said Sudan's military carried out drone strikes that hit a market in the disputed Abyei region, killing over 150 people.