At least 35 killed in drone attack by Sudanese army in Darfur, rights group says

The Sudanese army reportedly carried out a drone attack on a traditional court in West Darfur on Sunday, killing at least 35 people and wounding several others, according to a human rights group. The attack took place in the village of Garra al-Zawaya, an area controlled by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) militia, around 1 p.m. local time.

Civilians had reportedly gathered at the court to attend hearings for various local cases and disputes. The Emergency Lawyers group, which documents alleged war crimes by both sides of the conflict, stated that the courthouse was also damaged in the attack. This incident follows recent statements by RSF leader Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, who reportedly told his soldiers to consider themselves "freed" in the war against the government army after military advances in the neighboring Kordofan region.

The civil war between Sudan's army and the RSF militia erupted in April 2023, dividing the country. The RSF militia originated from the Janjaweed militia, which previously collaborated closely with the Khartoum regime. The conflict has displaced over 12 million people, nearly a third of the population, with close to 4 million fleeing to neighboring countries. The United Nations describes the situation as the world's worst humanitarian crisis, with over 30 million people dependent on external aid, and 5 million facing life-threatening food shortages. Drones have become an increasingly significant part of the warfare, with the UN reporting over 1,000 civilian deaths from drone attacks in the first five months of this year. The RSF militia is considered a formidable force, with estimates of its fighters ranging from 100,000 to 450,000. Reports from UN expert panels, Amnesty International, and Human Rights Watch suggest that the United Arab Emirates has supplied the RSF with weapons and fighters via areas controlled by rebel general Khalifa Haftar in Libya, though both the UAE and Haftar deny these claims.