The Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a paramilitary group in Sudan, recently announced it has gained control over the Zamzam camp, a site heavily affected by famine, located in the western Darfur region. Following two days of intense shelling and gunfire that resulted in significant casualties, including the tragic loss of at least 100 lives—among them children and aid workers—the RSF declared their success in “liberating” the camp from the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF).
In a public statement released on Sunday, the RSF indicated that their military units were deployed to ensure the safety of civilians and humanitarian medical personnel in Zamzam, affirming that their operations were aimed at liberating the camp from military control. As part of a broader tactical offensive, the paramilitary launched ground and aerial assaults on the city of el-Fasher, as well as surrounding displacement camps, including Zamzam and Abu Shouk.
The United Nations reported the grim toll, estimating that over 100 individuals may have lost their lives in the RSF’s recent operations, while an army-aligned faction, led by Darfur Governor Minni Minnawi, suggested the situation could be even more severe. The RSF refuted accusations of deliberately targeting civilians, claiming that the SAF was utilizing the camp as a makeshift military base and employing civilians as “human shields.”
In recent weeks, the RSF’s activities have intensified around el-Fasher, as they aim to seize the last state capital in Darfur not yet under their control. In a separate incident reported from Um Kadadah, another town approximately 180 kilometers east of el-Fasher, activists alleged that the RSF killed 56 civilians during assaults as they advanced toward the city.
This escalation comes on the heels of the SAF regaining control of Khartoum, the capital, approximately 1,000 kilometers to the east, leading to a deepening division within Sudan. The country is now, in essence, bifurcated, with the army consolidating power in the north and east while the RSF dominates much of Darfur and portions of southern Sudan.
The ongoing conflict has resulted in a staggering humanitarian crisis, with tens of thousands of lives lost and more than 12 million people displaced. The United Nations has deemed this situation one of the world’s most dire humanitarian emergencies, exacerbated by famine conditions reported across several regions, including Zamzam and Abu Shouk. Current estimates indicate that around 25 million people—approximately half of Sudan’s population—are facing extreme hunger.
As the situation unfolds, the need for humanitarian assistance and international support remains critical to alleviate the suffering of affected populations in Sudan.
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