Amnesty International is calling for a full war crimes investigation into an attack by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on a camp for displaced people in North Darfur earlier this year. In a report released Wednesday, the rights group details multiple accounts of atrocities carried out during the large-scale assault on the Zamzam camp — already suffering from famine — as RSF forces tightened their siege on the nearby city of el-Fasher.
RSF Accused of Killing Civilians and Committing Mass Rape
The report includes testimonies from witnesses who say RSF fighters used explosives in crowded areas and opened fire randomly across residential zones. According to survivors, at least 47 civilians were shot dead while hiding in homes, fleeing violence, or seeking shelter in a mosque.
Agnes Callamard, Amnesty’s secretary-general, condemned the attack, saying it showed RSF’s “alarming disregard for human life”. The group reported widespread theft, arson, and acts that “may amount to” rape and pillage, forcing an estimated 400,000 people to flee the camp in just two days.
Survivors described chaos and terror, with fighters shooting indiscriminately to drive residents out. One man told Amnesty, “[RSF] fighters were just shouting and shooting anywhere.” Another witness recalled armed men storming his home and killing his elderly brother and nephew.
Evidence Points to Systematic Atrocities
The report draws on interviews with 29 people — survivors, witnesses, and relatives of victims — as well as satellite imagery and verified videos. Amnesty says these findings fit a broader pattern of RSF abuses across Sudan’s 30-month war, including mass executions, rape, and village burnings. The Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) have also been accused of serious violations.
Amnesty again criticised the United Arab Emirates for allegedly supporting the RSF with money and weapons, accusations the UAE strongly denies.
No End in Sight as Conflict Deepens
The war between the SAF and RSF has killed tens of thousands and displaced nearly 12 million since April 2023. Attempts at negotiating a ceasefire have mostly failed. The RSF announced a unilateral truce last month after mediation by the “Quad” — the U.S., Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE — but renewed clashes show little willingness from either side to stop the fighting.