In a bold move that risks further fragmenting Sudan, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on Saturday unveiled a parallel government, appointing a civilian prime minister and a 15-member presidential council. The announcement, made from the RSF-controlled city of Nyala in South Darfur, marks a significant escalation in the ongoing power struggle between the RSF and the Sudanese army.
The RSF named Mohamed Hassan al-Ta’ayshi, a former member of Sudan’s transitional sovereign council, as prime minister of what it termed the “government of peace and unity.” This rival administration directly challenges the internationally-recognized, army-backed government formed in May and led by former UN official Kamil Idris, which remains incomplete with three cabinet posts still vacant.
RSF commander Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, also known as Hemeti, will head the new presidential council as president, while rebel leader Abdelaziz al-Hilu has been appointed vice president. The council includes prominent political figures, former officials, and newly named regional governors among them El-Hadi Idris, now declared governor of Darfur by the RSF.
This appointment has created a standoff in Darfur, where El-Hadi Idris will now contest control with Minni Arko Minawi, the army-aligned governor. Minawi has condemned the RSF’s move, accusing them of attempting to share blame for ongoing atrocities with their allies.
The RSF’s actions follow a political charter signed in February in Nairobi with allied armed and civilian groups. However, the move has drawn concern from international observers, including the United Nations, which warns that the formation of a parallel government could deepen Sudan’s divisions and undermine peace efforts.
Since war erupted in April 2023 between RSF forces and the Sudanese army, led by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, Sudan has been plunged into one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises. The conflict has killed tens of thousands, displaced millions, and led to the collapse of essential services.
As al-Ta’ayshi begins forming his cabinet, the RSF’s rival government threatens to push Sudan further toward partition, complicating already fragile efforts to end the devastating civil war.
