The Committee for Justice (CFJ) has documented the killing and injury of several inmates inside Shala Prison in the city of El Fasher, North Darfur State, on Thursday, 30 April 2026, amid conflicting accounts regarding the circumstances of the incident and the party responsible.
According to available information, some sources reported that a drone strike targeted the prison, resulting in the death of two inmates and injuries to seven others, amid an escalation of aerial operations in the region in recent weeks.
Conversely, other accounts suggested that the incident may have resulted from internal violence inside the prison, with reports of several inmates being killed using heavy weapons following the circulation of video footage showing detention conditions inside the facility—footage that sparked widespread reaction on social media platforms.
Information indicates that the videos, published days prior to the incident, depicted detainees in harsh humanitarian conditions, with some families identifying their relatives after periods of enforced disappearance, further heightening concerns over detention conditions at the prison.
CFJ stated that targeting places of detention or the occurrence of violence within them constitutes a direct threat to the lives of detainees and raises serious concerns regarding their safety, particularly amid the lack of transparency and difficulties verifying information in conflict‑affected areas.
The Committee for Justice calls for an urgent and independent investigation to determine the circumstances of the incident and those responsible, to ensure the protection of detainees, prevent the targeting or militarization of detention facilities, and uphold the rules of international humanitarian law.
