Sudan army drone attack on Darfur court kills 35
A drone strike by the Sudanese army on a traditional court in North Darfur killed at least 35 civilians, according to rights groups. The attack occurred in an area controlled by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) during a local community gathering.
Why it matters
The escalation of drone warfare in the Sudanese conflict underscores the worsening humanitarian crisis and the high civilian toll of the ongoing civil war.
The Sudanese army on Sunday (August 2, 2026) struck a traditional court in western Darfur with drones, killing 35 people and wounding others, a rights group said.
The Emergency Lawyers, which has documented abuses by both the army and its rival paramilitaries throughout the three-year conflict, said the strike hit the court in the village of Garra al-Zawaya in North Darfur state at around 1:00 p.m., as civilians had "gathered to attend hearings on local cases and disputes".
The village is under the control of the Paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which have been locked in a brutal conflict with the army since April 2023.
"The court session was being held under a tree with the participation of local community leaders," a witness from the area told AFP on condition of anonymity for safety reasons.
Among those killed were "four tribal leaders and two RSF commanders", the witness added.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in