At least 40 people have died in a horrific attack on a camp for displaced people in the western Darfur area of Sudan. The attack on Monday was said to have been carried out by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a paramilitary force that is part of Sudan’s ongoing civil war. Around 200,000 people live in the camp, which is called Abu Shouk. Many of them had escaped unrest in the area before.
The attack in Darfur is part of a larger battle that has caused a lot of hardship for people, and the UN has warned that many people are starving in the besieged city of El-Fasher. Local activists and humanitarian groups have reported that the attack was fatal, with gunshots in both public and residential areas.
What went on during the attack on Abu Shouk?
The attack was aimed at the Abu Shouk camp, which is where people from non-Arab communities who have had to leave their homes have been living. Witnesses said that some of the victims were murdered in their homes, while others were shot in the street. Satellite images showed many light vehicles near the camp’s northwest neighbourhoods, which supports the idea that the RSF attack came from the north.
The violence is connected to the civil war that has been going on between the RSF and Sudan’s army since 2023. There have been a number of similar events in the area, and displaced communities are increasingly getting trapped in the middle of fighting groups. Here is the link to our article on Sudan Explosions Escalating Conflict.
Who are the people who were hurt in this attack?
Militant groups like the Janjaweed militia, which the RSF came from, have long targeted those living in the camp, most of whom are from the Fur and Zaghawa ethnic groups. The camp was built more than twenty years ago as a safe place for individuals fleeing violence, and many of the people who reside there have been attacked more than once.
The RSF has been a key actor in the conflict and is accused of ethnic cleansing in Darfur. During this battle, it has done things that have led to worldwide censure, with groups like the United States accusing it of genocide. The RSF rejects these claims, although there is a lot of evidence that it was involved in the deaths of non-Arab people.
What does this attack have to do with the war in Sudan that is still going on?
The RSF has been working hard to make violence worse in Darfur, especially in places like El-Fasher, which is seen to be the last major stronghold of the Sudanese army in the area. The city is being attacked, and its people are running out of food. Many of them are afraid of more attacks as the conflict goes on.
The scenario in Abu Shouk shows how bad the humanitarian catastrophe has become, with thousands of civilians, including children and the elderly, stuck in deadly fights between military groups. Over 12 million people have been forced to leave their homes because of the conflict. Many of them now depend on help that is becoming harder to get because of persistent security issues. Here is the link to our article on US enforcing Sudan sanctions.
Final Thoughts: What will happen to Darfur and the people who have been forced to leave?
The RSF attack on the Abu Shouk camp is another sad event in Sudan’s long civil conflict. The RSF is still attacking weak villages in Darfur, and millions of displaced Sudanese don’t know what will happen to them in the future. The whole community is quite worried, but it looks like it will be harder and harder to find a solution to this situation if the fighting gets worse.
