Drone strike kills at least 35 in Sudan’s Darfur as UN warns of growing genocide risk

At least 35 people have been killed in western Sudan after a drone strike targeted a village gathering in Darfur, as the United Nations warns that the conflict is showing increasing signs of genocide against civilians.

The attack took place over the weekend in Garra al-Zawaya village in West Darfur, where residents had gathered to attend community court proceedings. According to Sudanese emergency lawyers and human rights activists, the strike was carried out by drones operated by the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF).

Among those killed were four tribal leaders and two commanders from the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which currently controls the village. Several other people were injured, although the exact number has not yet been confirmed.

The latest attack highlights the growing use of armed drones in Sudan’s civil war, which has increasingly expanded beyond traditional battlefield confrontations. Human rights groups say drone strikes have become more frequent in recent months, often causing heavy civilian casualties.

The United Nations has repeatedly expressed alarm over the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Darfur, particularly around the besieged city of El-Fasher. UN officials say the violence carries serious indicators of genocide, with civilians facing targeted attacks, ethnic violence, and severe restrictions on humanitarian assistance.

Rights monitors estimate that more than 1,000 civilians were killed in drone-related attacks during the first five months of 2026 alone, making the weapons one of the deadliest features of the conflict.

Sudan has been engulfed in war since April 2023, when fighting erupted between the Sudanese Armed Forces, led by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and the Rapid Support Forces under Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, widely known as Hemedti. What began as a power struggle between the rival military leaders has evolved into one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises.

The conflict has devastated large parts of the country, with millions of people forced from their homes. Many have fled to neighbouring Chad and other countries, while countless others remain trapped in areas with limited access to food, healthcare, and humanitarian aid.