RSF Accused of Burning Villages in North Darfur as Governor Decries International

Um Baru, June 14, 2026 - Several villages in North Darfur’s Um Baru locality were attacked on Sunday in a violent assault blamed on the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), according to local officials.

The raids targeted communities in the far northwestern part of the state, an area that has previously experienced repeated waves of violence and displacement, forcing thousands of residents to flee toward neighboring Chad.

Local representatives said armed groups carried out coordinated attacks on multiple villages, looting homes, destroying property, and setting entire settlements on fire. Markets were also reportedly burned, alongside the theft of livestock and essential household goods.

Initial reports indicate that at least five people were killed, though officials warned that the full toll remains unclear due to limited access and ongoing insecurity in the affected areas.

The assault is the latest in a series of attacks that have intensified concerns over the protection of civilians in Darfur, where large-scale displacement continues amid sustained fighting.

Darfur’s regional leadership condemned the violence, criticizing what it described as international inaction in the face of repeated attacks on civilian populations.

Officials warned that continued escalation risks deepening an already severe humanitarian crisis in the region, where access to food, shelter, and basic services remains critically limited.