Seven civilians have been killed and three others injured following artillery shelling by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on El-Fasher, the capital of North Darfur, the Sudanese army reported on Sunday.
The military said the RSF continues to target civilian areas, including the Zamzam refugee camp, while also accusing the paramilitary group of subjecting displaced people across Darfur to harsh and discriminatory treatment, such as road blockades and looting. The RSF has not yet responded to the allegations.
El-Fasher has been under sustained RSF artillery fire for several days, adding to a growing civilian death toll, according to Sudanese authorities. The city, a critical hub for humanitarian aid operations in Darfur, has witnessed intense clashes between the RSF and the army since May 2024, despite international concerns over the potential humanitarian fallout.
Earlier this week, the RSF claimed it had taken control of the Zamzam refugee camp following confrontations with government forces. The UN estimates that at least 400 civilians have died and nearly 400,000 have been displaced in the ongoing violence.
The conflict between the RSF and the Sudanese army, which erupted on April 15, 2023, has plunged Sudan into one of the world’s gravest humanitarian crises. Over 20,000 people have been killed and more than 15 million displaced, according to UN and local sources. However, some U.S.-based researchers estimate the death toll may be closer to 130,000.