El Fasher, Sudan — Renewed violence erupted at the Zamzam camp for displaced persons in North Darfur state this Wednesday, as the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) launched an aggressive assault, resulting in widespread civilian casualties and displacement. Amidst the chaos, the local leadership urged able-bodied residents to take up arms in defense of the camp, signaling an escalation in the region’s ongoing conflict.
The RSF’s assault began on Tuesday, targeting civilians and destroying critical infrastructure, including the camp’s main market. The forces also looted vehicles and other property. Defenders of the camp, including the national army, the Joint Force, and local groups known as the Popular Resistance, initially pushed back against the attacking troops.
Minni Arko Minawi, the governor of the Darfur region who commands the joint force, took to social media to rally support. “We call on all those who can bear arms to move to save our displaced people from the brutality of the terrorist RSF militia and to protect the land and honour,” Minawi posted on Facebook.
The following day saw the RSF, together with Arab tribal militias, intensifying their operations at Zamzam, resulting in even greater casualties and further instability. Local eyewitnesses reported that violent explosions and extensive fires engulfed large parts of the camp, while thousands fled on foot, many with injuries, toward the relative safety of El Fasher.
According to Adam Regal, a spokesperson for the Coordination of Displaced Persons and Refugees, the RSF’s actions have transformed the camp into a scene of devastation. “The streets of the camp have been filled with blood and body parts, and women and children have endured hours of terror, hunger, and despair,” he stated, labelling the incident a war crime and a blatant disregard for international norms.
Such attacks not only result in immediate loss of life and suffering but also raise fears of ethnic cleansing and genocide among the camp’s residents, similar to previous tragedies in West Darfur’s city of Geneina. The conflict is further fueled by allegations that the residents of Zamzam are allied with the joint force, which is actively engaged in combat against the RSF within El Fasher.
Last December, RSF forces bombarded Zamzam with artillery for several days, killing dozens and burning homes. The RSF justified these attacks by claiming the joint force was using civilians as human shields, an accusation the joint force denies.
The international humanitarian organization Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) has issued an urgent plea for the protection of civilians and their staff as violence intensifies. On Wednesday alone, MSF’s local hospital treated numerous victims, with several arriving deceased. “We are worried for the safety of civilians and our MSF colleagues in Zamzam,” stated an MSF representative. The organization highlighted that their hospital lacks the capability for trauma surgery, and access to nearby trauma centers is blocked by the ongoing conflict.
MSF also urged all parties involved in the conflict to allow safe passage for civilians trying to escape the violence and to protect medical facilities and personnel. As the situation remains volatile, the need for international intervention and support grows increasingly dire, not only to respond to immediate needs but also to help prevent further atrocities in the region.