Sudan Army Drone Strike on Darfur Court Kills at Least 35, Rights Group Says

At least 35 civilians were killed after a Sudanese army drone strike hit a traditional civil court in Sudan’s North Darfur state, according to the Emergency Lawyers group, a Sudanese human rights organisation that monitors the conflict.

The strike reportedly targeted a civil court in Al-Zawiya Ghara village in the Al Serief locality, where residents had gathered to resolve local disputes and hear community cases. In addition to those killed, several others were injured in the attack.

Rights group calls for investigation

The Emergency Lawyers group condemned the strike, describing the court as a civilian judicial and social institution protected under international humanitarian law. The organisation called for an independent and transparent investigation to determine the circumstances surrounding the attack and to hold those responsible accountable.

The Sudanese Armed Forces had not publicly commented on the allegation at the time of reporting.

Conflict continues to exact heavy toll

Sudan has been engulfed in civil war since April 2023, when fighting erupted between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The conflict has triggered one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises, displacing millions of people and causing tens of thousands of deaths.

The United Nations has warned that the increasing use of drones in the conflict has sharply raised civilian casualties, with unmanned aerial attacks becoming one of the leading causes of conflict-related deaths in 2026.

The latest incident underscores the continuing violence in Darfur, where civilians remain caught in the crossfire as hostilities show little sign of easing.