By Nana Karikari, Senior Global Affairs Correspondent
Thirty-five people died and dozens more were reported injured when a Sudanese military drone strike hit a traditional court session in northern Darfur. The Emergency Lawyers Group reported the attack occurred on Sunday afternoon in Garra al-Zawaya village. The village sits in a region controlled by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces. The Sudanese military has not commented on the incident.
The strike targeted a civil court facility that plays a key judicial and social role in the region. Civilians had gathered to attend hearings on local cases and disputes. A witness explained that the court session was being held under a tree with the participation of local community leaders. Four tribal leaders and two Rapid Support Forces commanders were among those killed. A local resident on the Darfur 24 website stated that two drones flew over the town before launching more than four missiles.
The Emergency Lawyers Group condemned the strike as a grave violation of international humanitarian law. Directing attacks against civilians and civilian objects constitutes a grave violation of international humanitarian law, the group stated. The organization demanded an independent investigation into the incident. The group also noted that drones are being increasingly used to target civilian areas and gatherings, which exacerbates the risks faced by the population.
The wider conflict began in April 2023 between the Sudanese military led by army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces led by commander Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo. The three-year civil war has killed tens of thousands of people and forced millions from their homes. Conflict monitors note that the true death toll is likely much higher. Drone warfare has escalated significantly and now serves as a leading cause of civilian casualties across the country.
Darfur remains largely under the control of the paramilitary forces. Last year, Rapid Support Forces captured el-Fasher, which was the army’s last major stronghold in the region. A United Nations fact-finding mission determined that the siege and capture of el-Fasher bore the hallmarks of genocide. The paramilitary group has consistently denied these accusations.
As both warring factions continue to weaponize technology against populated territories, international bodies stress that diplomatic intervention remains urgently necessary to protect noncombatants caught in the crossfire.
Regional and Continental Ramifications
With the war entering its fourth year, continental bodies like the African Union and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development continue pushing for unified mediation frameworks to halt the devastating cycle of civilian bloodshed across East Africa.
