Sudanese Military Drone Strike Kills 35 at Civil Court Session in Northern Darfur

At least 35 people have been killed following a Sudanese military drone strike on a civil court session in northern Darfur. The attack took place in the village of Garra al-Zawaya, where local community leaders and civilians had gathered for traditional judicial hearings. This incident marks a significant escalation in the use of unmanned aerial vehicles in the ongoing civil war, further devastating a region already gripped by a severe humanitarian crisis.

Witnesses and local reports indicate that the strike occurred on Sunday, involving two drones that launched more than four missiles into the gathering. The courthouse, described as a critical facility for local judicial matters, was crowded with tribal leaders and residents seeking legal resolutions. While some sources suggest the strike targeted a gathering that included Rapid Support Forces (RSF) commanders, the overwhelming majority of the victims were reported as noncombatants. The strikes resulted in dozens of injuries in addition to the fatalities, placing a further strain on the region's limited medical resources.

The Emergency Lawyers Group has vehemently condemned the military's actions, characterizing the strike as a grave violation of international humanitarian law. The rights group pointed out that targeting civilian judicial structures and gatherings constitutes a breach of global legal standards, and they have called for an immediate independent investigation into the incident. The group emphasized that such indiscriminate attacks undermine the basic tenets of civilian protection in conflict zones.

This latest tragedy underscores the increasing lethality of the conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary RSF, which has claimed tens of thousands of lives since it erupted in April 2023. As drone warfare becomes more prevalent in the Sudanese theatre, the risk to civilians continues to grow, prompting urgent calls for diplomatic intervention from the African Union and other international bodies. Without a concerted effort to enforce a ceasefire and protect noncombatants, the cycle of violence in Darfur and across Sudan threatens to spiral further out of control.