Over 400 reportedly killed in recent assaults by rebels in Sudan, UN confirms

The United Nations (UN) has reported that over 400 people have lost their lives in recent assaults carried out by Sudan’s paramilitary group, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), in the Darfur region.

The figures are based on information from what the UN describes as “credible sources.”

According to the report, the RSF launched a fierce ground and air offensive last week, targeting refugee camps near the city of El-Fasher.

The move appears to be part of a broader strategy to capture El-Fasher — the last remaining Darfur state capital still under the control of the Sudanese army, their main rival.

Since April 2023, the two rival factions have been engaged in a brutal conflict over power, plunging Sudan into what has become the world’s worst humanitarian crisis and displacing millions of people.

The United Nations confirmed that it had verified 148 deaths between Thursday and Saturday alone but cautioned that the actual death toll is likely significantly higher.

UN spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani told the BBC that their verification efforts are still underway and that the current figures do not account for casualties from Sunday's violence.

"Credible sources have reported more than 400 killed," said Ms Shamdasani.

According to the UN, at least nine humanitarian aid workers were among those who lost their lives in the violence.

The refugee camps around El-Fasher, including Zamzam and Abu Shouk, are home to over 700,000 displaced individuals, many of whom are enduring conditions akin to famine.

In a statement issued on Saturday, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) denied targeting civilians, claiming that the reports of killings in Zamzam were fabricated in an effort to tarnish their image.

The following day, the RSF declared that it had successfully “liberated” the Zamzam camp from Sudan’s military.

The group accused the army of using the camp as a military stronghold and of exploiting innocent civilians as human shields.

El-Fasher remains the last major city in Darfur controlled by the army and has been under siege by the RSF for over a year.

As of Tuesday, Sudan’s brutal civil war will have entered its third year.

UN Human Rights Commissioner Volker Türk urged all parties to reaffirm their commitment to taking meaningful actions toward ending the conflict.

In anticipation of a conference on Tuesday in London to mark the second anniversary of the conflict, UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy unveiled a £120 million (Sh20.16 billion) food and aid package for Sudan.

Lammy emphasized that Sudan’s stability is "crucial for our national security."

The UK will co-host the conference in partnership with the African Union and the European Union.