**Sudan Army Drone Attack in Darfur Claims 35 Lives, Rights Group Reports**
**Date: August 2, 2026**
At least 35 individuals have been reported killed, with numerous others injured, following a drone strike by the Sudanese army on a traditional court in western Darfur. The attack occurred on Sunday in the village of Garra al-Zawaya, located in North Darfur state, around 1 PM local time (11:00 GMT). The Emergency Lawyers group, an organization that monitors human rights violations in the ongoing civil conflict, provided this information.
According to the Emergency Lawyers, the drone strike targeted civilians who had gathered to attend hearings related to local disputes and cases. The court, which is a traditional institution for resolving tribal and local conflicts, was reportedly struck while a session was being held under a tree, attended by community leaders. A witness, who spoke to AFP on the condition of anonymity for safety reasons, confirmed that among the deceased were four tribal leaders and two commanders of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
The village of Garra al-Zawaya is currently under the control of the RSF, a group that has been heavily involved in the ongoing conflict in Sudan. The civil war, which erupted in April 2023, has pitted supporters of RSF commander Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo against his former ally, Sudanese army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan. The conflict has resulted in the deaths of tens of thousands of people and has led to widespread displacement across the region.
The court building was also reported to have sustained damage from the drone strike, further complicating the already dire situation in Darfur. The area surrounding Garra al-Zawaya has seen significant violence, particularly following the RSF's capture of el-Fasher, the last stronghold of the Sudanese army in Darfur, in a bloody offensive that took place in October of the previous year.
United Nations investigators have characterized the violence associated with the RSF's siege of el-Fasher as bearing "the hallmarks of genocide." The RSF, which originated from the Janjaweed militia known for committing atrocities during the early 2000s in Darfur, has since consolidated its control over much of the region.
The use of drone warfare has become increasingly prevalent among both the Sudanese army and the RSF. The UN has reported that over 1,000 civilians were killed in drone strikes during the first five months of the current year alone. This escalation in violence has contributed to what the UN describes as the world's largest humanitarian crisis, with millions displaced and in dire need of assistance.
As the conflict continues, the situation in Darfur remains precarious, with civilian casualties mounting and humanitarian needs growing more urgent. The international community is closely monitoring developments in the region, as calls for accountability and protection of civilians increase in the face of ongoing violence.