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A Sudanese army drone strike on a traditional court in the Darfur region killed 35 people and wounded dozens more on Sunday, according to a local rights group. The attack occurred in the village of Ghara al-Zawiya, which is under the control of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), and has drawn condemnation from the RSF's self-declared government.

Coverage Comparison

The BBC reported that the strike killed 35 people and injured dozens more, citing a local rights organization. France 24 and The Hindu provided similar accounts, noting that the strike hit a traditional court in western Darfur and that the RSF's self-declared government condemned the attack as "a horrific crime." All three outlets reported that the court session was being held under a tree with local community leaders, and that four tribal leaders and two RSF commanders were among those killed.

While the BBC and France 24 both referenced UN investigators' statements about the RSF's siege of El-Fasher bearing hallmarks of genocide, the BBC's report also included the RSF's denial of genocide accusations, a detail not present in the other two outlets' coverage.

Key Claims

  • The Sudanese army struck a traditional court in western Darfur with drones, killing 35 people and wounding others, as reported by the BBC, France 24, and The Hindu, citing the Emergency Lawyers Group.
  • The court session was being held under a tree with the participation of local community leaders, according to a witness quoted by AFP and carried by all three outlets.
  • Four tribal leaders and two RSF commanders were among those killed, as stated by the same witness.
  • The RSF's self-declared government condemned the attack as "a horrific crime," reporting 37 killed and 50 wounded, according to France 24 and The Hindu.
  • UN investigators have said violence linked to the RSF's siege and capture of El-Fasher bears "the hallmarks of genocide," as reported by all three outlets. The BBC noted that the RSF has denied these accusations.
  • The Emergency Lawyers Group called for an investigation into the drone strike and condemned attacks on civilians, as reported by the BBC.
  • According to the United Nations, more than 1,000 civilians were killed in drone strikes during the first five months of this year, a claim carried by The Hindu and the BBC.

Perspectives

Sudanese Army

No official response from the Sudanese army was reported. The BBC noted that the army had not commented on the strike.

Rapid Support Forces (RSF)

The RSF's self-declared government condemned the attack as "a horrific crime," reporting higher casualty figures. The BBC also reported that the RSF has denied accusations of genocide related to its siege of El-Fasher.

Emergency Lawyers Group

The rights group, which documented the strike, called for an investigation and condemned attacks on civilians as a "grave violation of international humanitarian law," as reported by the BBC.

Witnesses

A witness from the area, speaking anonymously, described the court session being held under a tree and confirmed the deaths of tribal leaders and RSF commanders, as quoted by AFP and carried by all outlets.

UN Investigators

UN investigators have said violence linked to the RSF's siege and capture of El-Fasher bears "the hallmarks of genocide," according to all three outlets.