Investigation Urged into RSF Assault on Sudanese Refugee Camp as Potential War Crimes
Amid escalating violence and humanitarian crises in Sudan, a recent report by ZezapTV sheds light on the devastating impact of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on civilian populations, particularly within internally displaced persons camps. The findings highlight the urgent need for accountability and intervention, underscoring the broader implications of the conflict that has led millions to flee their homes since April 2023.
Rights group Amnesty International has called for a war crimes investigation into an assault by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on a displaced persons camp in North Darfur, Sudan, earlier this year. A report issued by the NGO details harrowing accounts of atrocities committed by the RSF during a large-scale attack on the Zamzam camp. The RSF has faced numerous accusations of indiscriminate killings and mass rapes amid its ongoing conflict with the military government of Sudan, a struggle that has persisted since April 2023.
The assault on Zamzam, which occurred between April 11 and 13, coincided with the RSF’s siege of el-Fasher, the capital of North Darfur. This paramilitary force now exerts full control over the state while pushing eastwards into the vast central Sudanese region of West Kordofan, significantly contributing to the displacement of millions of individuals. Reportedly, the RSF fighters deployed explosives in populous areas and fired indiscriminately into residential zones, raising concerns about the safety of civilians.
According to the document, witnesses recounted seeing RSF fighters fatally shooting at least 47 civilians, including those trying to escape the violence or shelter in a mosque. Agnes Callamard, Amnesty International’s secretary-general, stated that the RSF’s violent assault against desperate civilians in the Zamzam camp illustrated a shocking disregard for human life. She noted that civilians were not only ruthlessly attacked but also robbed of essential survival items, leaving them with no avenues for justice.
The assaults resulted in the deliberate destruction of homes and civilians’ vital shelters, forcing an estimated 400,000 people to flee the camp in just two days. Based on interviews with 29 individuals, including witnesses, survivors, and relatives of victims, the report presents a chilling narrative of the RSF’s actions amidst Sudan’s 30-month long conflict. Survivors detailed experiences of indiscriminate shooting and arson that have become increasingly common in their accounts of violence directed toward civilians.
The report also highlights the military government’s Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) as a party implicated in numerous war crime allegations, resulting in widespread civilian suffering. Furthermore, it criticized the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for its alleged support of the RSF, a charge the UAE has consistently denied amid ongoing conflict that has taken tens of thousands of lives and displaced nearly 12 million people.
Despite international efforts to broker a peace agreement, the RSF’s recent unilateral ceasefire, announced following a peace proposal from the “Quad” mediators, including Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and the United States, has made little progress toward ending hostilities. The continued clashes suggest a persistent reluctance from both parties to genuinely pursue peace, leaving Sudan caught in a cycle of violence with far-reaching humanitarian implications.
#MiddleEastNews #PoliticsNews
