Sudan War Escalates RSF Forms Parallel Administration
Sudan Civil War: RSF Declares Rival Government, Deepening Fissure and Humanitarian Crisis
Nyala, South Darfur – In a significant escalation of Sudan’s 27-month civil war, the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on Saturday, July 26, 2025, announced the formation of a rival civilian-led government. This move, declared at a press conference in the RSF-controlled city of Nyala, South Darfur, signals a dangerous deepening of the conflict and raises fears of a permanent division within the country.
The RSF’s commander, Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, widely known as Hemedti, was declared president of the newly formed 15-member presidential council. Rebel leader Abdelaziz al-Hilu, head of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N), was named his deputy, with civilian politician Mohamed Hassan al-Taishi appointed as prime minister.
This direct challenge to the internationally recognized army-led government, formed in May under former United Nations official Kamil Idris, has prompted warnings from UN officials that it risks further fragmenting Sudan and undermining diplomatic efforts for peace.
The conflict, which erupted on April 15, 2023, is a power struggle between Hemedti’s RSF and the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) led by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan. Once allies who collaborated to oust long-time ruler Omar al-Bashir in 2019, they turned on each other in a 2021 coup that derailed Sudan’s transition to democracy.
Currently, the country is effectively split, with the army controlling the north, east, and center, including a recently retaken Khartoum, while the RSF holds most of Darfur and parts of Kordofan, where fighting has intensified.
Beyond the political fragmentation, the humanitarian impact of the war remains catastrophic. Over 12 million people have been forcibly displaced since April 2023, making it the world’s largest and fastest displacement crisis. Sudan is facing one of the worst hunger crises in decades, with famine gripping communities.
The health system has largely collapsed, with over 80% of hospitals in conflict zones non-operational, leading to surging disease outbreaks like cholera. Reports indicate over 60,000 cholera cases and more than 1,600 deaths between August 2024 and May 2025.
The conflict also sees widespread sexual violence, attacks on civilians and infrastructure, and the recruitment of child soldiers. Aid delivery is severely hampered by fighting, bureaucratic hurdles, and deliberate blockades, leaving millions without essential support. The UN’s 2025 humanitarian response appeal, requesting $4.2 billion, is currently only 14% funded, highlighting a critical shortfall in international support.
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