Sudan’s ongoing conflict has taken a perilous turn as the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), led by General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo—known as Hemedti—announced the formation of a parallel government, directly challenging the internationally recognized army leadership of General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan. This move risks pushing Sudan further toward political fragmentation and even potential partition.
The RSF-led government, unveiled in Darfur’s city of Nyala, appoints Dagalo as head of a new presidential council, with rebel leader Abdel Aziz al-Hilu as his deputy and civilian Mohamed Hassan al-Taishi as prime minister. This coalition claims to represent a vision for a secular “New Sudan,” an explicit counterweight to Burhan’s military-led administration. Yet the inclusion of governors from army-controlled regions suggests an attempt to assert authority beyond RSF-held territory, underlining the disputed nature of governance in Sudan.
The two rivals, once uneasy allies after ousting long-time dictator Omar al-Bashir in 2019, fractured over integrating armed forces in a transition to civilian rule. Since the 2021 coup, the power struggle has erupted into a devastating war, causing tens of thousands of deaths and triggering a deepening humanitarian crisis. The U.S. has sanctioned both Dagalo and Burhan for alleged war crimes and for choosing conflict over negotiations.
The RSF’s announcement signals not only a refusal to cede power but also an effort to secure international legitimacy and access to advanced weaponry. This move is a stark escalation, as the army dismisses the parallel government as illegitimate and vows to continue fighting until it regains control over the entire country.
Sudan’s chaos reflects a broader failure to achieve a peaceful political settlement, with dire consequences for a population already facing widespread hunger and displacement. The risk of de facto partition looms large, as fractured authorities consolidate control in their respective regions, undermining national unity and the possibility of rebuilding a stable state.
For international observers and regional actors, Sudan now poses an increasingly complex challenge: how to support peace and stability when two armed factions each claim to be the legitimate government. The formation of a parallel RSF-led government marks a critical turning point in this conflict, highlighting the urgency for renewed diplomatic efforts to prevent further fragmentation and collapse.
