Sudan army drone strike on court session kills 35, rights group says
The army has not commented on claims that civilians died in the attack on a paramilitary-held village.
A Sudanese army drone strike on a traditional court session in northern Darfur killed 35 people, a local human rights organization reported. The attack, which also injured dozens, occurred on Sunday afternoon in Ghara al-Zawiya village, an area controlled by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The Sudanese army has not issued a comment regarding the incident.
The Emergency Lawyers Group, which monitors civilian violence, stated that the court session was taking place under a tree and involved local community leaders. A witness quoted by AFP news agency confirmed that four tribal leaders and two RSF commanders were among the fatalities. According to a local resident cited by the privately owned Darfur 24 website, two drones flew over the town before launching more than four missiles.
The RSF currently controls most of Darfur, located in western Sudan. The ongoing three-year civil war between the Sudanese army and the RSF has devastated the country, resulting in tens of thousands of deaths and displacing millions from their homes.
The Emergency Lawyers Group has called for an investigation into the drone strike, condemning the targeting of the court as a "grave violation of international humanitarian law" due to attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure. The group also highlighted the increasing use of drones to target civilian areas and gatherings, which it says exacerbates risks for the population.
The RSF has also faced accusations of war crimes, including drone attacks on civilians, over the past three years. A UN fact-finding mission last year stated that the paramilitary group's siege and attack on el-Fasher, a major city in Darfur, exhibited the "hallmarks of genocide." The RSF has denied these allegations.