Zamzam Camp Engulfed in Chaos as Violence in Darfur Escalates

The sprawling Zamzam camp in Sudan’s Darfur region has become the latest symbol of horror in a conflict spiraling out of control.

Once a refuge for families fleeing war, Zamzam is now a graveyard of charred homes and shattered lives.

In April, the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) stormed the camp, unleashing a wave of destruction that shocked even war-hardened Darfuris.

With hundreds killed and nearly half a million people displaced yet again, the violence has turned this once-bustling camp into a warzone.

The international community watches in dismay as Darfur’s tragedy deepens, its people caught in a relentless cycle of violence, hunger, and displacement.

The seizure of Zamzam is part of the RSF’s strategy to gain full control of Darfur. The camp lies near al-Fashir, Darfur’s largest city and the last major stronghold of the Sudanese army in the region. [Photo: Screengrab]

Zamzam Camp Under Siege as Violence in Darfur Reaches New Heights

The conflict in Sudan, now in its second year, has turned one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises into an outright disaster. The fighting between Sudan’s armed forces and the RSF has destroyed entire communities and plunged parts of the country into famine.

In April, the violence spilled into Zamzam camp, one of Darfur’s largest encampments for displaced people. Witnesses say the assault began on April 11, when RSF fighters stormed the camp, looting homes and setting them ablaze.

Drone strikes and shelling rained terror on the residents as panic gripped the vast settlement. The United Nations reported at least 300 deaths in just a few days.

Another 400,000 people fled, leaving behind their homes and what little hope they had left. The attack is seen as one of the worst atrocities since the war began.

Satellite images confirm the devastation. Entire sections of the camp were reduced to ashes, consistent with eyewitness accounts of RSF fighters torching buildings.

The RSF has denied these accusations, insisting the camp was being used as a military base by Sudanese army forces. Yet aid groups condemn the assault as a brutal attack on civilians already facing starvation.

The seizure of Zamzam is part of the RSF’s strategy to gain full control of Darfur. The camp lies near al-Fashir, Darfur’s largest city and the last major stronghold of the Sudanese army in the region.

Control of al-Fashir would be a major victory for the RSF, allowing them to tighten their grip on western Sudan.

The Roots of Violence in Darfur

Darfur’s agony did not begin with this latest conflict. The region has suffered through waves of violence for over two decades, ever since war erupted in 2003. Back then, non-Arab rebel groups rose up against the Sudanese government, accusing it of neglect and discrimination.

The government’s response was to unleash Arab militias, known as the Janjaweed, which carried out widespread massacres, rape, and displacement.

The RSF, now a formal paramilitary group, evolved from these same militias. Though the faces and uniforms have changed, the pattern of violence remains tragically familiar.

In 2021, Sudan’s fragile peace shattered once more when the Sudanese army and RSF staged a coup. Their alliance quickly broke down as they fought for power, wealth, and control of Sudan’s future.

Clashes erupted over who would control the military and how the RSF would be integrated into the armed forces. These power struggles have left civilians trapped in the middle, paying the highest price.

The conflict is not just about political power. Both the army and the RSF control vast business empires, and Darfur’s rich resources—gold, livestock, and land—are key prizes in this brutal war.

A Humanitarian Crisis Worsens as the World Watches

Before the April assault, Zamzam camp had already been under siege for months. Aid workers were blocked from bringing in food and medical supplies. Hunger and disease spread rapidly. Now, with the camp in ruins, the situation is even more dire.

International aid groups are calling for urgent action to protect civilians and restore humanitarian access. But efforts have been slow, hampered by insecurity and a lack of political will.

The Sudanese army, meanwhile, is focusing its efforts on reclaiming the capital, Khartoum, which it retook in March. This has left Darfur increasingly vulnerable to RSF advances.

The violence in Darfur shows no signs of stopping. The RSF’s push toward al-Fashir is escalating, and fears are growing that the city itself could soon become the next target. Such an assault would likely unleash another round of mass killings and displacements.

For Darfuris, the future looks bleak. Many have already fled multiple times, each time hoping to find safety, only to face new waves of violence. The world’s attention, often fleeting, must now turn back to Darfur before even more lives are lost.