Sudan’s paramilitary Rapid Support Forces commander, General Mohamed Hamdan ‘Hemedti’ Dagalo [File: Ashraf Shazly/AFP]
| Published April 16, 2025
Paramilitary Rapid Support Forces declares rival authority in areas under its control, as the United States expresses alarm over its alleged targeting of civilians in Darfur.
Two years into a brutal civil war that has devastated Sudan, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have announced the formation of a rival government to the country’s official military leadership. The move deepens the political divide and escalates a conflict that the United Nations now calls the world’s largest humanitarian crisis.
A Bold Declaration Amid Chaos
RSF leader Mohamed Hamdan “Hemedti” Dagalo unveiled the new administration, claiming it would bring a “realistic future” for Sudan. In a statement released via Telegram, Hemedti said the RSF was committed to building a “state of law” that delivers unity, not domination. “We believe that no tribe, region, or religion holds a monopoly over Sudanese identity,” he wrote.
He vowed that his government would provide critical services—education, healthcare, and infrastructure—across all territories, not just RSF-controlled regions.
A War-Torn Nation Divided
Hemedti’s announcement comes as the RSF continues its bloody power struggle with Sudan’s army chief, Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan. Since the conflict began on April 15, 2023, more than 150,000 people have died and over 12 million have been displaced, according to humanitarian groups.
Recent clashes in North Darfur’s capital, el-Fasher, forced tens of thousands of civilians to flee the Zamzam refugee camp. The displaced were forced to walk 70 kilometers to Tawila, with reports from Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) detailing children dying of thirst along the way.
More than 700,000 people now face famine-like conditions near el-Fasher, as violence, roadblocks, and looting continue to obstruct aid delivery.
More than 12 million people have been driven from their homes over the two-year conflict
Calls for Peace and International Response
On the war’s grim second anniversary, world leaders convened in London for a high-level conference aimed at addressing the Sudan crisis. UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy announced an additional £120 million ($159 million) in food and medical assistance, calling the ongoing violence a moral failing of the international community.
“Many have given up on Sudan – that is wrong,” Lammy said. “It’s morally wrong when we see so many civilians beheaded, infants as young as one subjected to sexual violence, more people facing famine than anywhere else in the world… We simply cannot look away.”
Despite the renewed aid, peace remains elusive. The African Union, while condemning the violence, rejected any move toward the partition of Sudan by the RSF or the military, urging both sides to agree to an immediate and permanent ceasefire.
War Crimes and a Nation on the Brink
Both the RSF and Sudanese army face serious accusations of war crimes, including mass killings, sexual violence, and genocide. The RSF alone is believed to be responsible for more than 400 civilian deaths in recent months, based on UN reports.
As the humanitarian crisis deepens, Sudan stands at a dangerous crossroads. The rival government declared by Hemedti signals a hardening of divisions and complicates prospects for a negotiated peace. While world leaders pledge support, aid efforts remain hampered, and millions continue to suffer in one of the most tragic and underreported conflicts of the modern era.
Implications of Sudan’s Escalating Crisis and RSF’s Rival Government
The RSF’s declaration of a rival government amid an already catastrophic civil war carries wide-ranging implications, both domestically and internationally. Here’s a breakdown of the most pressing outcomes:
1. De Facto Partition of Sudan
The formation of a rival government by the RSF effectively formalizes the territorial and political split between Sudan’s warring factions. While not yet recognized internationally, this move mirrors a de facto partition of the country—something the African Union has already rejected. If the split hardens, it may lead to prolonged conflict and permanent division, similar to past African civil wars.
2. Collapse of Peace Efforts
The RSF’s bold political step significantly weakens chances of a mediated ceasefire or power-sharing deal. International efforts, including those led by the African Union, United Nations, and Western governments, may struggle to bring both sides back to the negotiating table as each now claims to be the legitimate governing authority.
3. Worsening Humanitarian Crisis
With over 12 million displaced and 700,000 facing famine-like conditions, the war has already shattered civilian life. The RSF’s move could further destabilize humanitarian operations. Increased fighting, lack of access for aid groups, and rising civilian casualties risk plunging even more of the country into famine and disease outbreaks.
4. Regional Instability
Sudan borders several volatile countries—Libya, South Sudan, Chad, and Ethiopia—all of which could be destabilized by a prolonged conflict or mass refugee flows. The crisis may also invite regional interventions or support for either faction from foreign governments, increasing the risk of Sudan becoming a battleground for proxy wars.
5. Increased Risk of International Isolation
Both the Sudanese military and RSF have been accused of war crimes. The formation of a breakaway government by a group under investigation for atrocities could trigger sanctions, travel bans, and arms embargoes from international bodies. It may also complicate foreign aid and development projects in Sudan for years to come.
6. Erosion of National Identity
The conflict, now centered around power, territory, and control, is tearing at the fabric of Sudanese national identity. With each side claiming moral legitimacy and exclusive authority, there’s a growing risk of long-term ethnic, tribal, and regional fragmentation, which could be difficult to heal even after the fighting ends.
Overall Takeaway
Sudan’s civil war has entered a dangerous new phase with the RSF’s declaration of a rival government, signaling a deepening political and military divide that threatens the nation’s future. What began as a power struggle has now spiraled into a catastrophic humanitarian disaster, claiming over 150,000 lives, displacing millions, and pushing hundreds of thousands to the brink of starvation.
The RSF’s move not only undermines peace efforts but also raises the specter of a permanently fractured Sudan—one marked by rival regimes, lawlessness, and regional instability. Despite urgent calls for a ceasefire and increased humanitarian aid, both warring sides remain entrenched, with civilians caught in the crossfire.
Unless decisive international action is taken, Sudan risks becoming a failed state. The global community must not only respond with aid, but also with unified diplomatic pressure to bring both parties back to the negotiating table. Inaction, at this point, would mean abandoning millions to suffering in what is already the world’s worst humanitarian crisis.
A satellite image shows vehicles in Zamzam Camp, which hosts displaced people, amid the ongoing conflict in the country, in North Darfur, Sudan, April 11, 2025. Maxar Technologies/Handout via REUTERS/File Photo Purchase Licensing Rights | Published April […]
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