Sudan’s RSF Forms Rival Govt with PM and Council

Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF), leading a coalition of allied factions, announced the formation of a rival government on Saturday, naming a civilian prime minister and establishing a 15-member presidential council. The move challenges the military-aligned government and intensifies fears of further fragmentation in the war-torn country.

The declaration was made during a press conference broadcast from Nyala, a city under RSF control in South Darfur, marking a significant development more than two years into the conflict between the RSF and the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF).

Appointments in the RSF’s Parallel Government

This “Government of Peace and Unity”, as the RSF calls it, is being presented as a legitimate governing alternative to the military-backed administration. According to an anonymous RSF source speaking to AFP, al-Ta’ayshi will now begin forming a cabinet.

Territorial Control and Parallel Rule

Sudan remains effectively divided between the warring factions:

Rival Governments and Governance Crisis

The internationally recognised army-aligned government, led by former UN official Kamil Idris since May, remains incomplete, with three cabinet positions unfilled. The RSF’s move to appoint parallel leaders, including ministers and governors, has drawn concern from the international community.

“The RSF appears to be sharing responsibility for crimes and violations committed jointly with their allies,” said Minni Arko Minawi, army-aligned governor of Darfur.

The RSF’s appointments follow a February political charter signed in Nairobi, where RSF-allied armed and civilian groups pledged support for a unified opposition administration.

International Concerns and Humanitarian Crisis

The United Nations has repeatedly warned that Sudan faces one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises. The creation of a parallel government is seen as a move that could deepen national fragmentation and further undermine diplomatic negotiations.

UN officials have warned the new government formation by the RSF could derail peace efforts and entrench division.

Since the outbreak of war in April 2023, following a power struggle between General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan (army chief) and Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo (RSF commander), Sudan has witnessed:

• Tens of thousands of deaths
• Millions displaced
• Collapse of basic services, including healthcare and water systems

The two men were once allies in the 2019 ousting of President Omar al-Bashir, but later orchestrated a military coup in 2021, derailing Sudan’s democratic transition.

With no immediate response from the army following the RSF’s announcement, tensions continue to mount amid a worsening humanitarian catastrophe