Sudan’s paramilitary group, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), has declared the formation of a rival government, deepening a deadly two-year conflict that has plunged the nation into the world’s largest humanitarian crisis.
RSF leader Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, widely known as “Hemedti,” announced the new administration through a statement on Telegram, framing it as an attempt to “build a state of law” rather than a state “ruled by individuals.” Hemedti emphasized that the RSF government aimed to unify Sudan, pledging to deliver education, healthcare, and essential services across the war-torn country, not just in RSF-controlled territories.
This announcement coincided with a high-level conference in London, marking the second anniversary of the war. UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy called for a “pathway to peace” and condemned the violence, urging the international community not to abandon Sudan. The UK pledged an additional £120 million ($159 million) in humanitarian assistance.
The situation on the ground remains dire. Fierce fighting has engulfed North Darfur’s capital, el-Fasher, with the Sudanese army reportedly bombing RSF positions. The violence has forced hundreds of thousands to flee, particularly from the Zamzam refugee camp. Many displaced civilians have walked over 70 kilometers to reach safety in Tawila, with aid group Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) reporting dehydration-related deaths, especially among children.
The UN reports that more than 400 civilians have died in recent RSF-led attacks. Both the RSF and Sudanese Armed Forces stand accused of war crimes, including genocide and sexual violence, in a conflict that has killed over 150,000 people and displaced more than 12 million.
Despite international calls for a ceasefire, the African Union maintains that it will not permit Sudan’s partition between rival factions. However, with famine threatening over 700,000 people and aid deliveries hindered by roadblocks and insecurity, the crisis shows no signs of abating.
As the power struggle between Hemedti and army chief Gen Abdel Fattah al-Burhan rages on, Sudan’s future remains uncertain, and the need for urgent international intervention grows ever more pressing.
