Int’l organisations call for joint forces to leave Darfur’s Zamzam camp

A report released last week by Sudanese and international organisations condemned the military presence in Zamzam camp, one of Darfur’s largest camps for displaced people, urging an immediate halt to its use as a base by Sudan’s Joint Forces. The camp, located 15 km south of El Fasher in North Darfur, has reportedly been transformed into a strategic hub with tanks, drones, heavy weaponry, military checkpoints, and trenches, along with the installation of satellite equipment. 

“The use of IDP camps for military purposes exposes civilians to grave risks,” warned the **joint statement by rights groups, highlighting violations of international humanitarian law, including the Geneva Conventions.  

Zamzam camp, home to tens of thousands of displaced individuals, now faces heightened threats of retaliatory strikes amidst ongoing fighting between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

Famine conditions, classified as Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) Phase 5, the highest level on the IPC Acute Food Insecurity scale, were confirmed in July at the Zamzam displacement camp, leaving thousands of children facing life-threatening malnutrition.

‘Under siege’

The Coordination of Displaced Persons in Zamzam camp detailed alarming developments between 12 and 13 November, accusing the *Joint Forces, made up of SAF-aligned insurgents, of turning the camp into a combat zone. “This blatant militarisation puts the most vulnerable at immediate risk,” their statement read.  

Efforts to secure a ceasefire have repeatedly faltered. SAF’s refusal to engage in Geneva-led talks this summer drew sharp criticism from international bodies.

Demands

Rights groups are urging all parties to withdraw troops from Zamzam and other displacement settlements across Darfur. They have also called for an immediate halt to aerial bombardments and heavy artillery use in civilian areas.  

“The African Union must take the lead in pressuring Sudan’s warring factions to commit to meaningful dialogue,” the statement stressed.

---

*The Sudanese Joint Force is made up of fighters of the Sudan Liberation Movement faction headed by Darfur Governor Minni Minawi (SLM-MM), the JEM faction led by Finance Minister Jibril Ibrahim (JEM-JI), and several small rebel groups. These movements formed the Darfur Joint Force in June 2022 as agreed in the 2020 Juba Peace Agreement, to protect the people of Darfur. They renounced their neutrality in November last year and are now fighting against the RSF alongside the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF).

**Signed by:

1. Africa Centre for Human Rights, Khartoum

2. African Centre for Democracy and Human Rights Studies  

3. African Centre for Sustainable Development, New York  

4. African Organization for Rights and Development, Kampala  

5. Afro-European Organization for Humanitarian Action and Development, Paris  

6. Al-Khatim Adlan Centre for Enlightenment and Human Development, Kampala  

7. American African Foundation against Torture, New York  

8. AWAFY Sudanese Organization, Kampala  

9. Civic Forces Alliance (CFA-Sudan), Khartoum  

10. Civil Society Initiative, Khartoum  

11. Community Development Association, Khartoum/Adré  

12. Darfur Bar Association, Khartoum/Kampala  

13. Darfur Civil Society Forum, Khartoum  

14. Darfur Initiative for Justice and Peace, Kampala  

15. Darfur Network for Human Rights, Kampala  

16. Darfur Victims Support Organization, Kampala  

17. Development Hub Organization, Kampala  

18. Dreamers Network for Media and Human Rights, Kampala  

19. Future Perspective Organization, Khartoum  

20. Human Rights Advocacy Network for Democracy (HAND), Khartoum  

21. Human Rights Institute of South Africa, Johannesburg  

22. International Media Centre, Birmingham, UK  

23. Inspiring Women for Peace and Development, Kampala  

24. Justice Africa Sudan, Khartoum/London  

25. Kordofan Women for Human Rights, Kampala  

26. Lawyers for Justice, Khartoum  

27. Legal and Human Rights Committee (TAGADOM)  

28. Madarat Al-Salam Organization for Development, Khartoum/Kassala  

29. New Horizons Foundation, Juba  

30. New Sudan Women’s Union, Sudan  

31. Nubatia Centre for Democracy and Human Rights, Khartoum  

32. Nubatia for Sustainable Development, Kampala  

33. Regional Centre for Training and Development of Civil Society, Khartoum  

34. Rise for Rights and Justice Centre, Kampala  

35. Sama Foundation for Advocacy and Human Rights, Kampala  

36. Sudan Democracy First Group, Khartoum/Kampala  

37. Sudan Knowledge Centre, Geneva, Switzerland  

38. Sudan Unlimited, New York  

39. Sudanese Alliance for Rights, Khartoum/Kampala  

40. Sudanese Centre for Democratic Media, Kampala  

41. Sudanese Humanitarian Initiative, Kampala  

42. The Nubian Centre for Peace and Democracy, Kampala  

43. The United International Sudanese Council, Canada  

44. Youth Citizens Observers Network, Kampala  

45. Youth Rights Movement, Kampala  

46. Zarga Organization for Rural Development, Khartoum