Sudan’s RSF is forming a parallel government to secure diplomatic recognition and access advanced weaponry, aiming to counter the legitimacy of the army-led government. Recent efforts to establish this government involve political alliances, with promises of peace and stability, despite ongoing conflict and military setbacks for the RSF.
Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF) are establishing a parallel government to achieve diplomatic recognition and gain access to advanced weaponry, as revealed by participating politicians and paramilitary sources. This initiative emerges amidst a conflict with the army, which has maintained international acknowledgment, despite its relocation to Port Sudan due to ongoing hostilities since the outbreak of violence in April 2023.
To contest the army’s legitimacy, the RSF signed a political charter in Kenya aimed at forming a “Government of Peace and Unity” within weeks, drawing support from various political parties and armed factions. Al-Hadi Idris, a faction leader, asserted their claim of being the legitimate government, condemning the army for employing divisive tactics such as airstrikes and humanitarian aid blockages.
Moreover, the RSF plans to engage international bodies like the United Nations to obstruct the army’s participation, emphasizing the necessity of controlling the country to foster peace and curb violence. Politicians backing this initiative believe recognition from neighboring countries hinges on stabilizing the region and ending the conflict.
The army-led government, based in Port Sudan, has international supporters, including Egypt, yet remains suspended from the African Union after the coup that disrupted the transition to civilian governance in 2021. Experts view the RSF’s new government as a means to manipulate humanitarian aid distribution, secure arms, and strengthen its stance in potential peace talks.
The RSF has reportedly received military support and advanced weaponry, including drones. Idris defended their right to acquire arms for protecting citizens, countering the army’s assertions of RSF’s weapons ambitions. Additionally, accusations of military support from foreign nations, such as the UAE, have surfaced.
Despite denying any allegations of aid obstruction or civilian targeting, the army criticized the RSF’s political maneuvers, perceiving them as provocative during a time of military setbacks for the RSF. Furthermore, both the United Nations and the United States have expressed concerns about the ongoing conflict, emphasizing the need for Sudan’s territorial integrity and stability.
The army has seen military success in pushing the RSF out of urban centers; however, the RSF continues to dominate the Darfur region and parts of Kordofan. An unexpected alliance with the SPLM-N group focused on creating a secular state highlights the overarching theme of the new charter, aiming for a federalist vision of a “New Sudan.”
SPLM-N leaders communicated a belief that this alliance would serve as a pathway to peace, granting them the resources and strategy necessary to address both tribal conflicts and ideological opposition from the army, which has been historically intertwined with Islamist influences.
The ongoing establishment of a parallel government by Sudan’s RSF reflects a critical turning point in the nation’s conflict, as it seeks to counter the legitimacy of the army-led government. The RSF’s efforts, backed by various political factions, highlight the urgency for international engagement and the potential for significant shifts in the balance of power within Sudan. As tensions persist, the implications for Sudan’s sovereignty and the humanitarian crisis remain profound and concerning.
Original Source: www.usnews.com
