The Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have denied allegations of shelling Zamzam camp for displaced persons in El Fasher, North Darfur, over the weekend. The accusations, made by Darfur Governor Minni Minawi, were labeled as “a cheap attempt to distort the facts” by RSF spokesperson Lt. Col. El Fateh Gurashi.
RSF response
In a statement released yesterday, Gurashi dismissed Minawi’s claims as “false and contradictory,” accusing him of fabricating the narrative to deflect from his own crimes.
The RSF alleges that Minawi’s forces, part of the Sudan Liberation Movement faction (SLM-MM), have used displaced persons as human shields and established military bases within the camp.
“Minawi is denying his crimes while endangering civilians by turning Zamzam camp into a military zone,” said Gurashi. The RSF called on the UN and human rights organizations to intervene, demanding the removal of armed forces from the camp and reiterating their commitment to civilian protection.
The alleged attack has drawn sharp criticism from humanitarian organizations. Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) reported chaotic conditions in the camp, with patients and staff evacuating amidst the violence. MSF’s hospital in Zamzam is now empty, and aid efforts have been severely hampered.
Satellite analysis and international law
A report by Yale University’s Humanitarian Research Lab observed defensive positions in Zamzam camp, indicating expectation of clashes.
The RSF’s claims that displaced camps are being militarized align with similar accusations in past conflicts, where civilian areas were reportedly used as shields.
Under international humanitarian law, using civilians as human shields is strictly prohibited.
The RSF and General al-Burhan’s forces (SAF) have been accused of widespread war crimes since the conflict erupted in April 2023. Both sides deny these allegations, often shifting blame onto their opponents.
As civilians continue to flee Zamzam camp, the humanitarian crisis in Darfur worsens. Calls for international intervention intensify, but the path to accountability and peace remains uncertain.
