Sun Feb 23 10:05:08 UTC 2025: **Sudan’s Paramilitary Force Establishes Parallel Government, Deepening Civil War**
Nairobi, Kenya – February 23, 2025 – Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF) paramilitary group and its allies have defied international warnings and established a parallel government in areas under their control, further escalating the ongoing civil war. The move, confirmed Sunday, follows the signing of a charter in Nairobi, Kenya, creating a “government of peace and unity” for rebel-held territories.
The signing ceremony, delayed multiple times and held behind closed doors, was attended by a faction of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N) and the deputy brother of RSF commander Mohamed Hamdan Daglo. The charter calls for a secular, democratic state and the formation of a unified national army. The new administration aims to improve services in RSF-held areas, which have been cut off from essential resources like new banknotes and passport services.
The initiative has sparked strong condemnation. The Sudanese army, which controls other parts of the country, recalled its ambassador from Kenya in protest. The United Nations and the Arab League have expressed concerns that the move will deepen the fragmentation of Sudan and worsen the humanitarian crisis, which has already displaced over 12 million people.
Despite statements by RSF advisors denying intentions to divide Sudan, the establishment of a separate government raises fears of further escalation and prolonged conflict. The war, which began nearly two years ago over the integration of the RSF into the national army, has already claimed tens of thousands of lives and caused widespread suffering. The conflict has carved the country into distinct zones of control, with the army holding the north and east, and the RSF controlling much of Darfur and parts of the south. The new parallel government will likely exacerbate existing tensions and further complicate efforts to resolve the crisis.
First Piper 