As the conflict in Sudan continues to escalate, the toll on human life and community structures is becoming increasingly dire. A recent drone strike on a traditional court in Darfur, which resulted in multiple fatalities among civilians and local leaders, underscores the severe impact of this civil war between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces. With tens of thousands already deceased since the conflict’s onset in April 2023, the situation demands urgent global attention and humanitarian response to address the resulting crisis.
At least 35 people were killed and several others wounded when Sudanese army drones targeted a traditional court in western Darfur, according to reports from the Emergency Lawyers group, which has been monitoring human rights abuses amid the ongoing civil war in Sudan. The strike occurred on a Sunday around 1 PM local time (11:00 GMT), hitting the court in the village of Garra al-Zawaya, located in North Darfur state.
Civilians had gathered in the area to attend hearings on local cases and disputes when the attack took place. The village is currently under the control of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). This latest incident highlights the devastating consequences of the three-year civil war, which has seen tens of thousands of casualties since its initiation in April 2023 between RSF commander Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo and his former ally, Sudanese army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan.
The Emergency Lawyers group reported that the court building, an essential institution for resolving tribal and local feuds, was also damaged during the aerial assault. Witnesses reported that the court session was being held outdoors under a tree and attended by local community leaders, indicating the integral role of such gatherings in maintaining societal cohesion amidst conflict. Among the deceased were four tribal leaders and two RSF commanders.
Garra al-Zawaya is situated near the town of Kabkabiya, approximately 150 kilometers (93 miles) west of el-Fasher, which serves as the army’s last stronghold in Darfur and was captured by the RSF following a violent offensive in October last year. United Nations investigators have described the violence associated with the RSF’s siege of el-Fasher as bearing “the hallmarks of genocide.”
Following its seizure of the city, the RSF—originating from the government-backed militia known as the Janjaweed, which was previously accused of committing atrocities in Darfur in the early 2000s—has consolidated power over much of the region. Both sides of the conflict have increasingly turned to drone warfare as the fighting escalates, with the UN reporting over 1,000 civilian casualties due to drone strikes in the first five months of the current year. The ongoing violence has not only resulted in immense loss of life but has also displaced millions, leading the UN to characterize the situation as the world’s largest humanitarian crisis.
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