Sudan army drone strike on court session kills 35, rights group says
At least 35 people have been killed after a drone strike targeted a traditional court session in northern Darfur, according to a local rights organisation.
Dozens of others were reportedly injured in the attack, which took place on Sunday afternoon in Ghara al-Zawiya, a village controlled by Sudan’s paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
The Emergency Lawyers Group, which monitors violence against civilians, attributed the strike to the Sudanese army. The army has not publicly commented on the allegation.
The incident comes as Sudan’s devastating civil war between the army and the RSF enters its third year. The conflict has killed tens of thousands of people, displaced millions and left the RSF in control of much of Darfur in western Sudan.
A witness quoted by AFP said the traditional court proceedings were being held outdoors under a tree and involved local community leaders.
According to the witness, four tribal leaders and two RSF commanders were among those killed in the strike.
The Darfur 24 news website also quoted a resident as saying that two drones flew over the area before firing more than four missiles.
The Emergency Lawyers Group has called for a full investigation into the incident and condemned the targeting of the court proceedings.
It said attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructure constitute a serious violation of international humanitarian law, while warning that the increasing use of drones against civilian areas and gatherings is putting more people at risk.
The RSF has itself faced allegations of war crimes, including attacks on civilians using drones, during the conflict.
A UN fact-finding mission previously said the RSF’s siege and assault on El-Fasher, one of Darfur’s major cities, last year showed characteristics associated with genocide.
The RSF has rejected the allegations of war crimes and genocide.
Source: BBC
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