Sun Feb 23 16:41:44 UTC 2025: ## Sudan’s RSF Forms Rival Government Amidst Ongoing Civil War

**Nairobi, Kenya** – The Rapid Support Forces (RSF), Sudan’s paramilitary group embroiled in a brutal 20-month civil war, has announced the formation of a rival “government of peace and unity” in a move condemned by the Sudanese army and the international community. The charter establishing this new government was signed in Nairobi, Kenya, by the RSF and allied political and armed groups, including prominent rebel leader Abdelaziz al-Hilu of the SPLM-N. While the RSF claims this government aims to unify the country and end the conflict, the Sudanese army has vowed not to recognize it, stating that any such recognition by other nations will be unacceptable.

The announcement comes as the Sudanese army claims significant battlefield gains against the RSF, pushing them back from central Sudan. The RSF, however, maintains a strong presence in Darfur and parts of Kordofan, suggesting a further fracturing of the nation. The new government’s charter outlines a vision for a secular, democratic, and non-centralized Sudan with a single national army, though it allows for the continued existence of armed groups.

The move has been widely criticized. The United Nations warned that the formation of a parallel government could exacerbate the already devastating conflict, which has driven millions from their homes, created a major humanitarian crisis, and led to the deaths of over 20,000 people, according to UN estimates. The RSF, accused of widespread human rights abuses including ethnic cleansing and genocide, has seen its commander, Mohamed Hamdan ‘Hemedti’ Dagalo, sanctioned by the US.

The absence of Hemedti at the signing ceremony is notable, with his deputy brother, Abdel Rahim Dagalo, signing on his behalf. The RSF maintains that its new government is the legitimate authority in contrast to the army-aligned government operating from Port Sudan, which it says has failed to resolve the conflict. Despite the RSF’s claims, the international community remains highly skeptical of this new government’s legitimacy and its potential to bring peace to war-torn Sudan.

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