WJWC: RSF Behind Darfur Atrocities—UAE Must Be Held to Account

Women Journalists Without Chains (WJWC) expresses grave alarm and unequivocal condemnation of the heinous atrocities perpetrated by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in North Darfur, particularly in Umm Kadada and the Zamzam and Abu Shouk displacement camps.

The scale and brutality of the violence reflect a disturbing pattern of systematic assaults on civilians, constituting war crimes and crimes against humanity under international law.

 The organization has received credible accounts from field sources confirming that on April 10, RSF fighters launched a violent raid on Umm Kadada, executing dozens of unarmed civilians. This massacre was corroborated by the Emergency Lawyers Group, which reported the deliberate killing of 52 individuals. Even more appalling, RSF elements stormed the town’s hospital, physically assaulting patients and executing all medical staff on duty—acts that represent clear and egregious violations of the protections guaranteed to medical personnel and facilities in conflict settings.

 Zamzam IDP camp has also endured unrelenting violence. In recent days, the camp was subjected to heavy artillery bombardment, followed by a coordinated ground assault on April 11. The attack led to the deaths of numerous civilians and triggered a mass exodus of terrified families, forced to flee through devastated terrain with no access to shelter, food, or medical aid. The RSF also systematically destroyed critical infrastructure, including health clinics, water points, and humanitarian supply lines. Meanwhile, Abu Shouk camp has suffered repeated shelling since February, resulting in mounting casualties, infrastructure collapse, and spiraling displacement.

 These attacks occur amid mounting international concern. United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres recently condemned the targeting of civilians in and around El Fasher, describing it as a flagrant breach of international legal norms and calling for an immediate cessation of hostilities and accountability for perpetrators. The World Health Organization (WHO) has also voiced outrage over the killing of medical professionals in Zamzam camp, emphasizing that such acts represent serious violations of the Geneva Conventions.

 WJWC believes the international community must not ignore the forces enabling these crimes. The organization stresses that such atrocities would not be unfolding with such consistency and impunity without substantial external support. Chief among those implicated is the United Arab Emirates (UAE), which has been repeatedly cited in international media investigations and rights reports as a key financial and military backer of the RSF. WJWC warns that without accountability for both the perpetrators and their enablers, the cycle of violence will only deepen.

 In response, Women Journalists Without Chains calls for:

·         A prompt and impartial international investigation into the atrocities committed in Umm Kadada and the displacement camps of Zamzam and Abu Shouk, under the supervision of the United Nations;

·         The immediate referral of those responsible to the International Criminal Court;

·         Targeted sanctions and punitive measures against any state or entity supporting the RSF, including a comprehensive embargo on arms transfers and financial aid;

·         Unrestricted humanitarian access to all affected areas, full protection for civilians and relief personnel, and the urgent lifting of the siege on El Fasher.

WJWC reiterates its steadfast commitment to exposing human rights abuses and seeking justice for victims across all international forums. The organization further warns that the international community’s continued silence and inaction not only embolden perpetrators but also represent a profound failure to uphold the values of human rights, dignity, and justice.

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Women Journalists Without Chains

April 14, 2025