Sudan army drone strike during court session kills 35, rights group says; army has not commented

A drone strike attributed to Sudan’s army killed 35 people during a court session in a village held by paramilitary forces, a rights group said on Monday. The claim centers on whether civilians were among those killed when the strike hit as people were gathered for judicial proceedings.

According to the rights group, the attack occurred in the context of fighting in Sudan, where rival armed groups control territory and local security conditions vary sharply from one area to another. The village’s reported control by paramilitary forces raised questions about who was present at the time and how the strike was conducted.

The Sudanese army has not issued a public comment addressing the rights group’s account. In the absence of an official response, details such as the intended target, the timing of the strike, and the basis for concluding civilians were hit were not confirmed by the government or military authorities in the reporting.

The alleged attack follows a pattern seen in other parts of Sudan, where aerial strikes have been reported during disputes between armed actors and where civilian gatherings can become entangled in the violence. Rights monitors have repeatedly called for greater transparency and accountability around targeting decisions and casualty verification.

The claim that a court session was interrupted by an airstrike also puts the spotlight on the protection of public institutions and due process during the war. If the allegation is accurate, it would represent a direct assault on a setting associated with legal proceedings, even as the broader conflict continues to disrupt courts and basic services in many communities.

The immediate next steps for affected families and local authorities remain unclear. Without a response from the army, verification will likely depend on further investigation by rights monitors, witness statements, and access for independent observers, if any can be obtained.

As Sudan’s conflict grinds on, incidents that involve alleged attacks on civilian gatherings and institutions are likely to intensify calls for clearer rules on the use of force, as well as for mechanisms to investigate strikes and compensate victims where wrongdoing is found.