Over 1,000 civilians lost their lives when a Sudanese paramilitary group seized control of a famine-stricken displacement camp in Darfur in April. Approximately one-third of the victims were subjected to summary executions, as per a recent report by the UN Human Rights Office (OHCHR).
Prior to the assault that occurred between April 11-13, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) had obstructed the delivery of food and essentials to the Zamzam camp in Darfur, where nearly 500,000 people displaced by the civil war were sheltered. The UN report highlighted that during the attack, the RSF specifically targeted civilians, leading to extensive atrocities such as killings, rape, torture, and abductions. At least 319 individuals were reportedly executed within the camp or while attempting to escape.
The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk stated that the deliberate killing of civilians could potentially amount to the war crime of murder. The report, based on interviews with 155 survivors and witnesses who sought refuge in Chad in July 2025, revealed the horrifying realities of the situation.
The Zamzam camp, initially established to accommodate those displaced by the Darfur war that commenced in 2003, faced renewed violence in 2023, primarily affecting displaced individuals from African tribes. The dire conditions in the camp were exacerbated by RSF patrols, which blocked crucial supplies like food, medicine, and fuel, leading to severe shortages by January.
The attacks launched on April 11 involved various forms of aggression, including artillery fire, drone strikes, and ground offensives employing four-wheel drive vehicles. Testimonies included accounts of RSF fighters shooting at individuals hiding in a room within the camp, resulting in casualties.
Alongside the killings, the OHCHR documented 66 cases of conflict-related sexual violence, with over 100 victims, predominantly females and including minors. A survivor expressed feeling safer in Chad and vowed never to return to Zamzam, emphasizing the trauma experienced.
The RSF did not provide an immediate response to requests for comments. The group had previously denied accusations of harming civilians and had pledged to hold its members accountable for any transgressions. The April assault foreshadowed a subsequent attack on El Fasher in late October, where the RSF is alleged to have carried out mass executions and abductions, leaving numerous residents unaccounted for.
The complete report can be accessed here.