At least 35 people were killed and dozens more injured after a drone strike reportedly carried out by the Sudanese army hit a traditional court gathering in North Darfur, according to the Emergency Lawyers Group, a Sudanese organization that monitors violence against civilians. The attack took place on Sunday in Ghara al-Zawiya, a village controlled by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The Sudanese military has not commented on the allegations. Witnesses said the traditional court session was being held under a tree and attended by local community leaders when the strike occurred. According to reports, four tribal leaders and two RSF commanders were among those killed.
Local news outlet Darfur 24 reported that residents saw two drones circling the area before launching more than four missiles, causing heavy casualties among those gathered. The Emergency Lawyers Group condemned the strike and called for an independent investigation, describing the attack on a civilian gathering as a serious violation of international humanitarian law. The organization also warned that the growing use of drones in Sudan’s conflict is increasing the danger to civilians, particularly in populated areas and public gatherings. The incident comes as Sudan’s civil war enters its fourth year. Fighting between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the RSF, which began in April 2023, has devastated the country, leaving tens of thousands dead, displacing more than 14 million people, and triggering what the United Nations describes as one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises.
The RSF controls most of the Darfur region, where intense fighting continues. The paramilitary group has also faced repeated accusations of committing war crimes and crimes against humanity, including attacks on civilians. A United Nations fact-finding mission previously said the RSF’s siege and assault on El-Fasher, one of Darfur’s largest cities, bore the “hallmarks of genocide.” The RSF has consistently denied the allegations. The latest drone strike underscores the escalating violence in Darfur and renewed concerns over the protection of civilians caught in Sudan’s prolonged conflict.
