A community court session under the shade of a tree ended in tragedy after a drone strike ripped through the gathering, leaving dozens dead and highlighting the growing toll of Sudan’s brutal civil war on civilians.
At least 35 people were killed after a drone strike reportedly carried out by the Sudanese army hit a traditional court session in Sudan’s Darfur region, according to a local rights organisation.
The attack happened on Sunday afternoon in Ghara al-Zawiya village, an area controlled by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The Sudanese army has not commented on the allegations.
The Emergency Lawyers Group, which monitors violence against civilians, said dozens of other people were injured when missiles struck the gathering.
A witness told AFP that the court session was being held beneath a tree, where community leaders had gathered to settle local disputes.
“The court session was being held under a tree with the participation of local community leaders,” the witness said.
According to the witness, four tribal leaders and two RSF commanders were among those killed.
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Local news outlet Darfur 24 quoted a resident as saying two drones circled above the village before launching more than four missiles at the crowd.
“Two drones flew over the town before launching more than four missiles,” the resident said.
The Emergency Lawyers Group condemned the attack and called for an independent investigation, describing the strike as a serious violation of international humanitarian law.
The organisation also warned that drones are increasingly being used to target civilian gatherings, making life even more dangerous for communities already trapped by the conflict.
Sudan has been engulfed in civil war for more than three years, with fighting between the Sudanese army and the RSF killing tens of thousands of people and forcing millions to flee their homes.
While the RSF has also been accused of carrying out deadly attacks on civilians, including alleged war crimes in Darfur, the group denies the accusations. The latest strike adds to growing concerns over the worsening humanitarian crisis and the rising number of civilian casualties as the conflict continues.
