Fires, extreme violence, and mass displacement following RSF attack on Zamzam camp, North Darfur

CIR has verified multiple videos showing human rights violations in the wake of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) large-scale attack on the Zamzam Internally Displaced People (IDP) camp in North Darfur.

Key findings

• The Rapid Support Forces (RSF) launched a large-scale attack on the Zamzam camp for Internally Displaced People (IDP) on 11 April, 15 kilometres southeast from El Fasher, North Darfur.
• CIR verified multiple videos showing human rights violations in the wake of the RSF attack, as well as extensive fire damage across the camp. Between 11 and 16 April, NASA Fire Information Resource Management Systems (NASA FIRMS) picked up 88 heat anomalies. Burn patterns visible on Planet satellite imagery suggest arson.
• Secondary reports claim between 60,000 and 80,000 households were displaced from the camp between 13 and 14 April. Verified footage showed mass movements northwest of Zamzam, towards Tawila.
• CIR identified one RSF fighter present in at least three separate videos of human rights violations, including the detention of elderly men and the execution of an individual in civilian clothing.

Introduction

On 11 April, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) launched an attack on the Zamzam camp for Internally Displaced People (IDP), 15 km south of El Fasher, North Darfur. On 14 April, the official RSF Telegram channel claimed that the paramilitary group had successfully carried out a liberation operation and that no civilians were harmed in the process. Contrary to the statement, CIR verified user-generated content showing human rights violations and analysed satellite imagery confirming significant burn damage across the camp. Other footage verified by CIR confirmed mass civilian displacement in the wake of the attacks.

Zamzam IDP camp was home to a population of around 500,000 IDPs at the time of the attack, many of whom arrived in recent months following violence in El Fasher and neighbouring villages. In July 2024, the Famine Review Committee determined there was a famine in the camp. The RSF has repeatedly justified attacks on Zamzam camp, which was previously targeted in February, based on unconfirmed claims that pro-SAF groups were using the camp as a military base.

Fires and burn damage across Zamzam camp

The RSF launched its attack on Zamzam camp on Friday 11 April. CIR observed numerous heat anomalies as well as extensive fire damage across the camp in subsequent days. In total, NASA Firms detected 88 heat anomalies between 11 and 16 April (see figure 2).

Planet satellite imagery captured on 13 April showed smoke plumes coming from two residential areas southwest of the market in Zamzam camp (figure 3). Comparative analysis of Planet satellite imagery from 10 and 14 April showed new burn marks appearing over the market area and multiple residential areas throughout Zamzam (figure 4). The pattern of fire damage, with specific areas burnt (figure 5) and clusters of burn scars to residential areas with no signs of fire damage in between, indicates arson. Verified videos of fires also indicate RSF presence in the direct vicinity of these fires starting 11 April.

Figure 4: Planet satellite imagery from 10 and 14 April showing burn marks appearing in Zamzam camp. The widespread fire damage on different locations, with scattered burn scars with no signs of fire damage in between, suggests arson. Source: Planet

Extreme violence and human rights violations

On April 14, Reuters shared an article citing UN sources, claiming that more than 300 people were killed in Zamzam and surrounding areas between 11 and 14 April.  Although CIR could not confirm the number of casualties, multiple verified videos confirm that human rights violations took place across Zamzam camp between 11 and 14 April, including detention of elderly, the aftermath of a massacre, and the execution of an individual in civilian clothing. This section gives an overview of four verified videos of human rights interferences on 11 April.

One video posted to a pro-RSF Telegram channel on 11 April showed the aftermath of a massacre. CIR identified at least ten bodies in civilian clothing on the ground, while an armed fighter in RSF camouflage celebrates next to them (figure 6). Several bodies have bloodstained clothing, and some appear to have gunshot wounds.

A second verified video, posted by another pro-RSF Telegram channel on 11 April, shows a group of RSF fighters just south of the location of the massacre (figure 7). The group is seen entering the National Health Insurance Fund^[1] facility, after opening fire in a residential neighbourhood where several buildings are on fire. A video posted on Facebook filmed from inside the facility, was captioned with a claim that the footage shows the Zamzam camp health centre, where RSF fighters allegedly killed patients and staff. CIR could not confirm whether this was the same location as in the video.

A third verified video, posted to a pro-RSF Telegram channel, shows men in RSF camouflage surrounding a group of elderly men and questioning them about the location of a Gathering of Sudanese Liberation Forces (GSLF) base, before leading them into a mosque (figure 8). One of the men can be seen in a fourth verified video, posted on X by a [GRAPHIC] pro-SAF account on 11 April. The video shows three men in civilian clothing laying on the ground, at least one of whom gets executed (figure 8). The perpetrator is wearing civilian clothing and is accompanied by at least two men in RSF camouflage. The two videos took place approximately 100m apart from one another near a mosque in the southern area of Zamzam.

Forced displacement

The attacks have led to mass displacement. On 13 April, the International Organization for Migration’s Displacement Tracking Matrix (IOM DTM) reported that between 11 and 12 April, approximately 3,190 households were displaced from Zamzam IDP camp. The flash alert claimed that the households moved towards El Fasher and Tawila. On 14 April, IOM DTM published an update reporting that a further 60,000-80,000 households were displaced from Zamzam between 13 and 14 April.

According to testimonial data published by the Ayin Network on 13 April, people fleeing violence in Zamzam were attacked by armed groups along their journey. Although CIR could not confirm these claims, several videos showed civilians surrounded by RSF fighters and vehicles, as well as civilians being stopped or questioned by men in RSF fatigues. One verified video, posted in a pro-RSF Telegram channel on 13 April, showed a group of civilians including women and children being stopped on the main road and searched by RSF fighters. The group of civilians appear to be carrying bags, suggesting they might be fleeing the area.

CIR also verified a video posted to Facebook by Darfur Heritage, a Sudanese account monitoring civilian impact, on 14 April showing large crowds of civilians fleeing Zamzam camp northeast along the Tawila road (figure 9). RSF fighters can be seen encouraging the movement of civilians, claiming that they will not harm them. CIR additionally identified several videos showing large groups of civilians allegedly arriving in Tawila between 13 and 15 April following the escalation of violence in El Fasher, but has not yet verified the footage.

Attribution

CIR verified a significant presence of the RSF inside Zamzam camp during the attack, who were identifiable from their military uniforms and insignia. One specific RSF fighter was identified in at least three separate verified videos showing an execution, forced detention and amid other RSF soldiers entering the NHIF, all of which took place on 11 April (figure 10, see section 2.2 for details of incidents).

Along with the verified presence of RSF camouflage during the attack, the RSF publicly acknowledged their presence in the camp. On 13 April, the RSF released an official statement to Telegram, claiming that they entered Zamzam to “liberate” the camp from SAF and pro-SAF elements, who they said were using the camp as a military site. The RSF used the same narrative to justify  their attack on Zamzam camp on 13 February 2025 (see CIR, February 2025).

The RSF also published several propaganda videos on its Telegram channel showing Abdulrahim Dagalo speaking to civilians. The caption states “RSF Second Commander, Lieutenant General Abdul Rahim Daglo, inspects IDPs from El Fasher and nearby camps, pledging to ensure their safety and protection.” CIR could not verify the video, but assessed that it was filmed south of the camp, based on smoke plumes visible in a video which appears to have been filmed in the same location.

CIR continues to monitor and verify footage coming out of Zamzam camp and surrounding areas.

[1] The National Health Insurance Fund is a governmental organisation set up to ensure access to health services for the population.