Sudan army drone strike kills 35 at Darfur court

A Sudanese army drone strike on a traditional court in western Darfur killed at least 35 people on Sunday, August 2, according to a rights group monitoring the conflict. The attack targeted the village of Garra al-Zawaya in North Darfur state, which is under the control of the rival paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

The Emergency Lawyers group, which documents abuses by both sides, said the strike occurred around 1 p.m. local time as civilians had gathered for hearings on local cases and disputes. A witness from the area, speaking anonymously for safety, said the court session was being held under a tree with the participation of local community leaders. The witness added that among those killed were four tribal leaders and two RSF commanders. The RSF's self-declared government condemned the attack as a horrific crime, stating a higher toll of 37 dead and 50 wounded. There was no immediate response from the Sudanese army.

The village lies near Kabkabiya, approximately 150 kilometers west of el-Fasher. That city was the army's last stronghold in Darfur before the RSF captured it in a bloody offensive last October. United Nations investigators have stated that violence...