Two civilians were killed on Sunday when a drone struck a private vehicle in the Wadi Majrur area in the Al-Hara Administrative Unit in Al-Malha locality of Sudan’s North Darfur State, according to the Al-Malha Emergency Monitor.
Saddam Idris, spokesperson for the Al-Malha Emergency Monitor for Human Rights, told Radio Tamazuj that a drone, allegedly belonging to the Sudanese Armed Forces, struck a 1988-model Toyota Hilux at around 11 a.m. The vehicle was travelling from Al-Dabba locality in Northern State via Dongola to the Al-Malha locality.
“Two of the three people aboard the vehicle were killed, while the third escaped unharmed,” he said. “The strike partially destroyed the vehicle and scattered the goods it was carrying.”
In a statement on the incident, the Al-Malha Emergency Monitor identified the victims as Mohamed Musa Bakhit Tikras, whom it described as a trader, and Ali Ismail.
“Targeting civilians during armed conflicts constitutes a violation of international humanitarian law and contravenes international norms and laws prohibiting human rights violations during conflicts and wars, potentially giving rise to legal accountability,” the Monitor said.
A witness also confirmed the deaths to this publication.
“Mohamed Musa Bakhit Tikras was from the Umm Bayada area, while Ali Ismail was from Al-Hara,” he said. “Idris Ismail, the second victim’s brother, survived without injuries. The strike occurred as the vehicle was passing through Wadi Majrur. These people were travelling from the town of Al-Dabba to Wadi Majrur.”
“The deceased man’s brother had come from mining areas in Northern State to meet him in Al-Dabba, and they were on their way to Al-Malha when he was killed in the strike,” the witness added.
He stated that the survivor is suffering from what he described as exposure to toxic substances and dust from the blast, which subsequently made him ill. However, his condition was stable, he said.
The witness further said that the man who had been working in the mining areas of Northern State had operated a small kiosk after losing his job, following what he described as clashes in Al-Dabba. He had subsequently lost the kiosk business, and the incident occurred while he was returning with his brother.
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