Sudan Army Drone Strike Kills 35 at Darfur Court, Rights Group Says

Khartoum: The Sudanese army on Sunday conducted a drone strike on a traditional court in western Darfur, resulting in the deaths of 35 individuals and injuring others, according to a rights group. This strike targeted the village of Garra al Zawaya in North Darfur state, while civilians were present for hearings on local cases and disputes, as reported by Emergency Lawyers.According to France24.com, Emergency Lawyers has been documenting abuses by both the Sudanese army and its rival paramilitary forces throughout the ongoing three-year conflict. The village where the strike occurred is controlled by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which has been engaged in conflict with the army since April 2023. A witness, speaking anonymously for safety reasons, reported that the court session was being held under a tree and included local community leaders. Among the casualties were four tribal leaders and two RSF commanders.The RSF's self-declared government condemned the attack, labeling it a "horrific crime," and reported that 37 people were killed, with 50 others wounded. The Sudanese army did not immediately respond to these allegations.Garra al Zawaya is located near Kabkabiya in North Darfur, approximately 150 kilometers west of El-Fasher, which was the army's last stronghold in Darfur before being captured by the RSF last October. UN investigators have indicated that the violence linked to the RSF's siege and capture of El-Fasher bears "the hallmarks of genocide." Following their takeover, the RSF, which originated from the Janjaweed militia accused of past atrocities, has solidified its control over much of the region.Both the Sudanese army and the RSF have increasingly relied on drone warfare, with over 1,000 civilians reportedly killed in drone strikes during the first five months of this year, according to the United Nations. Last week, RSF commander Mohamed Hamdan Daglo urged his fighters to consider themselves "unleashed" in their war against the army after losing control of a crucial highwa y linking Khartoum and El-Obeid.The UN has issued a "red alert" over the situation in El Obeid, where intense drone attacks have been reported, fearing a potential ground offensive by the RSF. The ongoing conflict between Daglo and army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan has resulted in tens of thousands of deaths, millions of displacements, and what the United Nations describes as the world's largest hunger and displacement crises. Both sides have been accused of committing war crimes, with the RSF particularly facing accusations of systematic sexual violence, looting, and mass atrocities.