Sudan's Paramilitaries Announce Rival Government Amid Intensifying Conflict

In a significant escalation of Sudan's ongoing conflict, the Rapid Support Forces have announced the formation of a rival government, prompting international calls for ceasefire and humanitarian aid amidst widespread violence and suffering.

Sudan's landscape is witnessing a dramatic shift as the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a powerful paramilitary group, has declared the establishment of a rival government to challenge the country's armed forces. This announcement comes two years into a brutal conflict that has escalated into the globe's largest humanitarian catastrophe. RSF leader Mohamed Hamdan "Hemedti" Dagalo asserted that the group is committed to "building the only realistic future for Sudan."

His declaration coincided with a high-profile conference in London, intended to commemorate the second anniversary of the conflict, where UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy emphasized the necessity for "a pathway to peace." Meanwhile, the fighting persists. The Sudanese army reported airstrikes on RSF positions near el-Fasher, resulting in a significant number of displacements from the Zamzam refugee camp.

Hemedti professed that the RSF seeks to create a "state of law" rather than a system dominated by particular clans or regions. In a statement on Telegram, he pledged that the new government would extend crucial services, including education and healthcare, not just to RSF strongholds but to the entire nation.

Recent violence has resulted in over 400 fatalities linked to RSF activities, as indicated by United Nations reports. Both the RSF and the armed forces are facing numerous allegations of war crimes, ranging from genocide to widespread sexual violence. A struggle for power between Hemedti and Sudan’s army chief, Gen Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, ignited this humanitarian disaster, which has already claimed more than 150,000 lives and displaced upwards of 12 million individuals.

The fighting around el-Fasher has compelled thousands to trek approximately 70 kilometers to reach the town of Tawila, with many arriving in dire health conditions. Reports from the medical charity MSF indicate that a severe lack of water has led to child fatalities from dehydration. In total, more than 700,000 people in temporary camps near el-Fasher are living in famine-like conditions, hindered by security risks and logistical barriers to aid distribution.

At the international conference on Tuesday, the UK government committed an additional £120 million (approximately $159 million) in food and medical assistance, highlighting the world's moral obligation to respond to the violence. "Many have given up on Sudan – that is wrong. It’s morally wrong when we witness such atrocities," Lammy remarked, urging for solidarity with the suffering civilians.

The gathering also advocated for an immediate and lasting ceasefire, although the African Union warned against any attempts to divide the country between the army and the RSF.