Sudan's RSF converts Zamzam Refugee Camp into military base

Sudan's Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have reportedly converted the Zamzam displacement camp in North Darfur, once a refuge for residents escaping conflict, into a heavily fortified military and artillery base.

The camp, once home to more than 300,000 displaced individuals, has now been taken over by the RSF for military use after they solidified their hold on the region.

The RSF launched an assault on Zamzam camp on April 10, gaining control after three days of intense fighting with the Sudanese Army and armed civilian groups.

Following the takeover, a wave of violence ensued, resulting in the deaths of hundreds of civilians and the displacement of 406,000 people, according to the United Nations.

RSF fighters have also reportedly destroyed refugee tents and replaced them with fortified positions. They have likewise set up checkpoints and blocked humanitarian access to the camp, further endangering civilian life and leaving the IDPs with no option but to flee.

The RSF has similarly destroyed six hospitals in the camp serving over a million displaced persons and the headquarters of Solidarités International, a French organisation supplying water to displaced persons.

International bodies and human rights organisations have since advocated for unrestricted access to the area and the safeguarding of civilian infrastructure.

According to The 2025 Global Report on Internal Displacement, published by the Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC), Sudan recorded the highest number of internally displaced persons (IDPs) ever documented in a single country, with 11.6 million people forced to flee their homes in 2024 amid a worsening civil war.

The report has attributed the rise in displacement to the relentless fighting that erupted in April 2023 between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and RSF.

The power struggle, initially concentrated in Khartoum and Darfur, has since spread to several regions, leaving destruction, loss of life and widespread displacement in its wake.

"Sudan continued to host the largest number of IDPs globally at 11.6 million, and the humanitarian situation in the country deteriorated as conflict persisted," the report reads.

The report also notes that many IDPs in Sudan and other affected regions face limited access to basic services, including shelter, food, healthcare and clean water.

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