Symbolic imageAt least 35 killed in drone strike on court in North Darfur
Drones hit a traditional court in the RSF-held North Darfur village of Garra al-Zawaya on Sunday, killing at least 35 people. The rights group Emergency Lawyers says Sudan's armed forces carried out the strike; the military has not commented.
What happened
- Emergency Lawyers says the strike came at about 1pm local time (11am GMT) on Sunday, 2 August.
- Civilians had gathered to hear local cases and settle community disputes; the court building was badly damaged.
- A witness told AFP the session was held under a tree; the dead include four tribal leaders and two RSF commanders.
- The RSF's self-declared government put the toll at 37 killed and 50 wounded.
- The village lies near Kabkabiya, about 150 kilometres west of el-Fasher, captured by the RSF in October 2025.
The view from outside
Daily Sabah places the strike in a wider drone war, citing UN figures of more than 1,000 civilians killed in drone attacks in the first five months of this year and UN investigators' finding that the el-Fasher assault bore "the hallmarks of genocide". The National instead stresses the two rival administrations, in Port Sudan and Nyala, and the roughly 14 million people displaced since April 2023.
What could happen next
- Emergency Lawyers demands an independent, transparent investigation into who fired and who is responsible.
- Neither the death toll nor the origin of the drones has been independently verified.
- El-Obeid faces intense drone attacks after the RSF lost the Khartoum highway last week; the UN issued a "red alert".
Sudanese army: Has made no statement on the strike or on the accusation that its drones hit the court.
RSF administration: Calls the attack "a horrific crime" and gives a higher toll than the rights group.