At least 13 civilians killed in drone strike on Sudan-Chad border crossing

KHARTOUM, March 12 (Xinhua) -- At least 13 civilians were killed when a drone strike hit the Adre border crossing between Sudan and Chad on Thursday, according to local volunteers and eyewitnesses.

The Coordination Council of El Geneina Emergency Rooms, a voluntary civilian group, said in a statement that a drone fired four missiles at the crossing, killing 13 people involved in the fuel trade, including five women, and injuring five others.

The strike destroyed the fuel market at the crossing, damaged several civilian vehicles, and burned large quantities of food supplies, the group said.

According to the council, all the victims were small-scale traders who transported fuel and goods from the Chadian city of Adre to the crossing using traditional animal-drawn carts as part of their daily livelihood activities.

The group added that the crossing is also used for humanitarian operations, including the delivery of relief supplies, medicines, and shelter materials, as well as the movement of international humanitarian workers.

Meanwhile, an eyewitness, Adam Abdalla, a local fuel trader, told Xinhua that the attack occurred early in the morning while traders were preparing to begin their daily work.

"Several successive explosions hit the fuel market, and the fuel tanks and vehicles caught fire," he said.

Abdalla added that the fuel market at the crossing had been a primary source of livelihood for dozens of families, noting that the strike caused heavy losses for traders and left the site almost completely destroyed.

The paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) accused the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) of carrying out the attack, claiming it was intended to disrupt the delivery of humanitarian aid to the Darfur region.

The RSF called on the UN Security Council and international organizations to take urgent measures to halt what it described as "attacks" and to hold those responsible accountable.

Border crossings between Sudan and Chad, particularly the Adre crossing, are among the most important commercial routes for residents of Darfur, serving as a key artery for the movement of goods and people.

On Feb. 23, Chad announced the closure of its border with Sudan after armed groups involved in the conflict crossed into its territory, while stating that humanitarian exceptions would still be granted subject to prior authorization.

Fighting between the SAF and the RSF erupted in April 2023 and has killed tens of thousands of people and displaced millions inside Sudan and across its borders.