Sudan Crisis: RSF Declares Formation of Rival Government Amid Ongoing Civil War
As Sudan’s brutal civil war continues into its third year, claiming over 24,000 lives and displacing more than 13 million people, the paramilitary group Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has made a major declaration. RSF has announced the formation of a parallel government in the territories under its control, including the war-torn Western Darfur region.
In a recent video statement, RSF commander General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo revealed plans to establish a 15-member presidential council, claiming it will represent all of Sudan and promote peace and unity. Dagalo also mentioned the inclusion of other armed factions, such as a branch of the Sudan Liberation Movement active in the Kordofan region.
RSF Faces Global Criticism
Despite these claims, the announcement has drawn sharp criticism. The United States has already imposed sanctions on Dagalo for alleged involvement in genocide in Darfur. Furthermore, many international observers view the RSF’s move as a destabilizing tactic rather than a path to peace.
Recent Atrocities in Darfur
Just days before the announcement, RSF and its allies reportedly attacked refugee camps in North Darfur, killing over 400 people, including 12 humanitarian workers and numerous children. The UN estimates that around 400,000 people have fled the Zamzam and Abu Shouk camps due to the violence, making humanitarian aid delivery nearly impossible in those regions.
A Country in Collapse
Since the outbreak of civil war on April 15, 2023, fighting between the Sudanese army and RSF has devastated the nation. Millions have been driven from their homes, with over 4 million seeking refuge in neighboring countries. The conflict has triggered a humanitarian crisis marked by famine, sexual violence, ethnic clashes, and war crimes.
While the RSF’s establishment of a rival government is portrayed by the group as a step toward stability, the international community has widely rejected the move, warning that it could further escalate the conflict and deepen the humanitarian catastrophe.
