Sudan RSF Attacks on Darfur Camps: 2025 Crisis & Crimes

Sudan Conflict: RSF Violence Sparks Humanitarian Crisis

By Darius Spearman (africanelements)

Support African Elements at patreon.com/africanelements and hear recent news in a single playlist. Additionally, you can gain early access to ad-free video content.

RSF Attacks Target Darfur Displacement Camps

Violence erupted again in North Darfur as Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF) claimed control over Zamzam camp near El Fasher. This paramilitary group, known for its brutality, launched attacks on the area in April 2025. The RSF stated they moved into Zamzam to protect civilians and aid workers. They accused the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and allied Darfuri groups of hiding inside the camp. The RSF claimed these groups used the camp as a military base and civilians as human shields (Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces claim control of displaced camp in Darfur). However, the reality on the ground paints a horrific picture.

The RSF assault wasn’t just a ground operation; it involved aerial attacks, too. Both Zamzam and the nearby Abu Shouk camp faced intense bombardment. Local resistance groups in El Fasher reported devastating losses. Over 320 people were killed or wounded in these attacks (Civil War in Sudan | Global Conflict Tracker). Tragically, the violence claimed the lives of the last remaining medical team inside Zamzam camp, according to the UN (Civilians Around Sudan’s El Fasher Face New Attacks). This loss leaves hundreds of thousands without critical medical care. Furthermore, the RSF’s history, rooted in the Janjaweed militias infamous for Darfur atrocities, casts serious doubt on their claims of protecting civilians (Rapid Support Forces – Wikipedia).

Sudan Conflict Escalates Humanitarian Crisis

The situation in Darfur’s displacement camps was already desperate before these latest attacks. Zamzam camp, home to around half a million displaced people, faced famine conditions. Civilian infrastructure lay in ruins even before the RSF assault (In Sudan, hundreds killed in attacks on famine-hit displacement camps; Sudan: The Rapid Support Forces (RSF) Gains Ground in Sudan – ACLED). The ongoing war between the RSF and the SAF, Sudan’s official military led by General al-Burhan, has created a nationwide catastrophe. This conflict began in April 2023 after tensions exploded between the former allies (Has Sudan’s Conflict Reached a Turning Point? – RUSI). Now, the suffering is unimaginable.

Across Sudan, the numbers are staggering. Over 30 million people need humanitarian help (Civil War in Sudan | Global Conflict Tracker). Food security risks are growing worse daily. The conflict has forced aid organizations to pull back. Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) and the World Food Programme had to stop services in Zamzam. This was due to reduced access and severe security risks even before the latest assault (Civilians Around Sudan’s El Fasher Face New Attacks). Moreover, both the SAF and RSF stand accused of blocking aid deliveries. They reportedly extort checkpoints and loot vital humanitarian supplies, directly harming civilians (Civil War in Sudan | Global Conflict Tracker; Anadolu Agency).

RSF Violations: Echoes of Darfur Ethnic Violence

The violence in Darfur carries chilling echoes of the past, particularly for non-Arab ethnic groups. The RSF, successors to the Janjaweed militias, have been implicated in systematic ethnic targeting. In West Darfur, specifically, RSF forces targeted the Massalit ethnic group. Horrific massacres occurred in El Geneina in June 2023. These attacks claimed the lives of over 2,000 people (“The Massalit Will Not Come Home” – HRW; Civil War in Sudan | Global Conflict Tracker). This pattern isn’t isolated; it reflects a brutal campaign.

United Nations estimates suggest a devastating toll from this ethnic violence. Between 10,000 and 15,000 civilians were killed in West Darfur during 2023 alone, primarily by RSF-aligned forces (Civil War in Sudan | Global Conflict Tracker; “The Massalit Will Not Come Home” – HRW). The attacks in El Geneina included looting hospitals and destroying homes. Entire neighborhoods predominantly inhabited by Massalit people were demolished with bulldozers (“The Massalit Will Not Come Home” – HRW). These actions amount to what Human Rights Watch calls ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity. Therefore, the RSF’s current operations raise grave fears of similar tactics being employed against vulnerable displaced populations.

War Crimes Accusations Mount Against RSF

The Rapid Support Forces face widespread accusations of committing war crimes and severe human rights violations. Extensive documentation details mass atrocities carried out by RSF fighters. These include harrowing accounts of sexual violence systematically used against women and girls (Civil War in Sudan | Global Conflict Tracker; Sudan: Rapid Support Forces Target Civilians – HRW). Such acts inflict deep physical and psychological trauma, terrorizing communities. Also, the RSF’s actions in Al Gezira state, south of Khartoum, involved targeting specific ethnic groups and unlawful detentions (Sudan: Rapid Support Forces Target Civilians – HRW).

Both the RSF and the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) have been accused of obstructing humanitarian aid. This includes looting essential supplies meant for desperate civilians (Civil War in Sudan | Global Conflict Tracker). Furthermore, Human Rights Watch identified the RSF’s use of explosive weapons in populated residential areas. This tactic inherently risks civilian lives and violates international humanitarian law (“The Massalit Will Not Come Home” – HRW). The shelling of displacement camps like Zamzam, packed with civilians, tragically exemplifies this disregard for non-combatant lives (Anadolu Agency).

International Efforts Fail Amidst Sudan Conflict

The recent RSF attacks on Zamzam and Abu Shouk camps drew swift international condemnation. UN Secretary-General António Guterres spoke out against the violence. Regional powers like Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the UAE, and Qatar also condemned the assaults (Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces claim control of displaced camp in Darfur). These statements highlight global concern over the escalating brutality. Nevertheless, words alone have proven insufficient to halt the bloodshed.

Previous efforts to ensure safety have faltered. A UN Security Council Resolution passed in June 2024 demanded civilian protection. However, reports indicate the RSF ignored this resolution, continuing its operations (Civilians Around Sudan’s El Fasher Face New Attacks). Adding another layer to the international dimension, Sudan filed a complaint with the International Court of Justice (ICJ). The complaint accuses the United Arab Emirates (UAE) of complicity in genocide. Sudan alleges the UAE provided arms support to the RSF (Civil War in Sudan | Global Conflict Tracker). Indeed, reports suggest UAE-linked firms recruited foreign mercenaries, like Colombians, to fight alongside the RSF (Rapid Support Forces – Wikipedia). Meanwhile, mediation attempts seem stalled, hampered by deep divisions within the SAF and the RSF’s apparent focus on military gains over negotiation (Has Sudan’s Conflict Reached a Turning Point? – RUSI).

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Darius Spearman has been a professor of Black Studies at San Diego City College since 2007. He is the author of several books, including Between The Color Lines: A History of African Americans on the California Frontier Through 1890. You can visit Darius online at africanelements.org.