Sudanese Army Accused of Killing 35 in Darfur Drone Strike

A drone strike on a traditional court in Garra al-Zawaya, a village in North Darfur, killed 35 civilians on Sunday, according to Emergency Lawyers, an independent group documenting the conflict between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Forces of Support Rapid (FSR). The attack, which also damaged the court building, occurred as civilians gathered for local disputes, the group reported. The Sudanese army has not publicly responded to the allegations, while the FSR condemned the strike as a horrible crime.

The Attack and Its Aftermath

The strike targeted the village of Garra al-Zawaya, located near Kabkabiya in North Darfur, according to reports. Emergency Lawyers stated that the attack took place at midday, when the court was in session, and that four tribal leaders and two FSR commanders were among the dead. A witness quoted by AFP described the scene, noting that the FSR claimed 37 fatalities and 50 injuries, though the exact toll remains disputed. The attack has further deepened the divide between the Sudanese army, which controls the north, east, and center of the country, and the FSR, which now dominates western Darfur and parts of the south.

The organization has warned that the escalating violence risks exacerbating the world’s worst hunger crisis, with millions displaced and food shortages worsening. The conflict, which began in April 2023, has already claimed tens of thousands of lives and displaced millions, according to the UN.

The Human Toll

Local aid groups and medical professionals have also raised alarms. Three doctors were among the casualties in the El-Fasher strike, according to the Sudanese Doctors’ Union, which reported that 231 medical personnel have been killed since the war began. The UN’s humanitarian coordinator for Sudan, Antoine Gérard, noted a surge in attacks on civilians within El-Fasher, with many trapped by the FSR’s siege and lacking access to food, water, and medical care.

Escalating Conflict and International Response

The conflict between the Sudanese army and the FSR has entrenched a de facto division of the country, with the army holding key regions and the FSR consolidating control over western Darfur. The FSR, linked to the Janjaweed militias accused of atrocities in the early 2000s, has faced allegations of genocide by UN investigators following the fall of El-Fasher in October 2025. The group’s leader, Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, recently urged fighters to liberate themselves from all constraints after losing a strategic highway connecting Khartoum to El-Obeid.

The UN has repeatedly warned of potential mass atrocities as FSR advances in the Kordofan region, where El-Obeid has been a focal point of intense drone attacks. The organization has called for an emergency response to the “catastrophe” unfolding in the city, where the FSR is reportedly preparing for a ground offensive. Meanwhile, the Sudanese army has faced criticism for its role in the conflict, with human rights groups accusing it of targeting civilians and exacerbating the humanitarian crisis.

What’s Next?

The situation remains volatile, with both sides engaging in increasingly brutal tactics. However, the lack of a political resolution to the conflict continues to fuel violence, leaving millions in peril. As the war enters its third year, the international community faces mounting pressure to intervene before the crisis spirals further out of control.

The attack in Garra al-Zawaya underscores the deadly toll of the conflict, with civilians bearing the brunt of the violence. As the war drags on, the need for accountability, humanitarian aid, and a political solution has never been more urgent.