In brief
In a heart‑wrenching incident amid the Sudanese civil war, a drone strike by the army struck a community court session in Ghara al‑Zawiya, claiming 35 lives. Witness accounts describe the attack taking place under a tree, with four tribal leaders among the dead. The Emergency Lawyers Group has condemned the operation as a grave breach of international law, calling for urgent investigation. The ongoing clash between the national army and paramilitary Rapid Support Forces continues to devastate Darfur, resulting in repeated civilian casualties and displacement.
A drone attack by Sudanese army forces on a community court session in Ghara al‑Zawiya, a village under the control of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, left 35 people dead and more than a dozen injured.
The Emergency Lawyers Group, an organisation that monitors violence against civilians, said the strike took place under a tree where local leaders were holding a traditional meeting. Witness reports claim that the attack was carried out by several missiles launched after two unmanned aircraft passed overhead.
Four tribal leaders and two RSF commanders were among those killed. “The assault came from the sky and struck the community,” said a resident who did not want to be named. The Emergency Lawyers Group demands an inquiry and condemns the targeting of civilians as a violation of humanitarian law.
The conflict in Sudan has raged for three years, pitting the national army against the RSF. RSF control covers most of western Darfur, while the army dominates the east. Both sides have been accused of using drones to strike civilian targets, further endangering the population.
The RSF has long been implicated in war crimes, including a recent siege of El‑Fasher that a UN fact‑finding mission described as having “hallmarks of genocide.” The group continues to deny allegations of wrongdoing.
Read more about the escalating conflict on BBC News.
