A traditional court session meant to settle community matters ended in bloodshed after a drone strike hit a gathering in Sudan's Darfur region, killing at least 35 people and leaving dozens more injured, according to a local rights organisation.
The Emergency Lawyers Group, which monitors violence against civilians, said the attack happened on Sunday afternoon in Ghara al-Zawiya village in northern Darfur.
The village is under the control of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The Sudanese army, which the rights group blamed for the strike, has not commented on the allegations.
The rights organisation said the drone struck while residents had gathered for a traditional court session, where local leaders were handling community matters. The attack claimed the lives of dozens of people and injured many others.
A witness quoted by AFP said the session had been taking place outdoors.
"Court session was being held under a tree with the participation of local community leaders."
The witness added that four tribal leaders and two RSF commanders were among those killed in the strike.
Darfur 24, a privately owned news website, quoted a local resident who described the moments before the attack.
"Two drones flew over the town before launching more than four missiles."
Following the strike, the Emergency Lawyers Group called for an investigation into the incident, saying those responsible should be held accountable. It also condemned the attack, saying targeting a court session attended by civilians was unlawful.
The group said attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure are a "grave violation of international humanitarian law".
It also warned that drones are being increasingly used "to target civilian areas and gatherings, which exacerbates the risks faced by the population".
The latest attack comes as fighting between the Sudanese army and the RSF continues across the country. The conflict, now in its third year, has devastated Sudan, leaving tens of thousands dead and forcing millions of people to flee their homes.
The RSF controls most of the Darfur region in western Sudan, where some of the war's fiercest battles have been fought.
The paramilitary group has also faced accusations of committing war crimes during the conflict, including carrying out drone attacks on civilians. Last year, its siege and assault on el-Fasher, one of Darfur's main cities, was said by a UN fact-finding mission to bear the "hallmarks of genocide".
The RSF has denied those accusations.