The United Nations Human Rights Office has released a detailed report accusing Sudan’s paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) of committing mass atrocities during a three-day assault on Zamzam refugee camp in North Darfur in April 2025.

Key Findings of the UN Report

• Civilian Deaths: At least 1,000 civilians were killed in the attack.
• Summary Executions: Hundreds were executed without trial.
• Sexual Violence: Widespread and systematic sexual violence, including rape, was documented.
• Starvation Tactics: Prior to the assault, RSF imposed a blockade on food and essential supplies, deliberately starving residents.
• Looting and Destruction: Property and humanitarian facilities were looted and destroyed.

Context of the Attack

• Zamzam camp was Sudan’s largest displacement camp, housing over 500,000 residents before the assault.
• The attack was part of the RSF’s broader siege on el-Fasher, the provincial capital of North Darfur.
• The RSF’s actions formed part of a wider campaign in Sudan’s 20-month civil war between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and RSF.

Humanitarian Impact

• Millions have been displaced across Sudan since the conflict began.
• The UN warns of worsening famine conditions due to deliberate blockades and destruction of aid supplies.
• Overcrowded transit sites in Darfur and neighboring regions face dire shortages of food, water, and medical care.

International Response

• Volker Türk, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, condemned the atrocities, stating: “These horrific acts demand justice.”
• The RSF has not responded to the latest allegations, previously dismissing similar accusations as “propaganda.”
• Both the RSF and SAF have been accused of grave human rights violations during the conflict.

Broader Conflict Background

• Sudan’s civil war erupted in April 2023, rooted in power struggles following the ouster of former president Omar al-Bashir.
• Tens of thousands have been killed, with widespread destruction across Khartoum, Darfur, and other regions.
• The war has destabilized the Horn of Africa, with spillover effects into Chad, South Sudan, and the Central African Republic.

The latest UN report adds to mounting evidence of systematic atrocities in Sudan’s conflict, highlighting the scale of civilian suffering and reinforcing calls for international accountability mechanisms.