Sudanese Military Drone Hits RSF Controlled Village Killing Decades Of Tribal Leaders And Civilians
KABKABIYA, NORTH DARFUR – A drone strike carried out by the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) targeted a customary court in North Darfur on Sunday, resulting in the deaths of at least 35 people and leaving dozens more injured, according to local rights groups and eyewitness testimonies.
The attack occurred around 1:00 p.m. local time in the village of Garra al-Zawaya, located near Kabkabiya. Civilians and local elders had gathered under a tree for scheduled traditional court hearings aimed at mediating community disputes and tribal cases when the drone hit.
According to Emergency Lawyers, an independent Sudanese legal organization tracking conflict abuses, the bombardment caused high civilian casualties. Witnesses reported that among the dead were four prominent tribal leaders as well as two commanders from the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
The village of Garra al-Zawaya currently remains under RSF control. In addition to the casualties beneath the tree, the strike inflicted heavy structural damage on nearby buildings housing local administrative and court operations.
The incident highlights the growing human toll of aerial bombardments in Darfur, where ongoing hostilities between the Sudanese military and the RSF continue to devastate civilian infrastructure and traditional dispute-resolution spaces.
