The African Union (AU) has warned that the announcement of a parallel government in Sudan could lead to the country’s division, exacerbating the crisis already deepened by nearly two years of violent conflict. The war between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has caused tens of thousands of deaths and displaced over 12 million people, resulting in what the UN has described as an “unprecedented humanitarian crisis” on the African continent.
Initially sparked by disagreements over the RSF’s integration into the regular army, the conflict has split the country geographically, with the army controlling eastern and northern Sudan, while the RSF controls nearly all of western Darfur and parts of the south.
In March, the RSF and its allies signed a founding charter for a parallel government in Nairobi. The AU condemned the move on Wednesday, warning that it poses a serious threat of partitioning the country. The proposed government aims to establish a secular, democratic, and decentralised state, promising peace, equality, and justice free from ethnic, cultural, religious, or regional biases.
The AU called on its member states and the international community to refuse recognition of any government or entity that could divide Sudan or govern parts of its territory. The European Union and the UN Security Council have also expressed concerns, emphasising that the creation of a parallel government undermines Sudan’s democratic aspirations.
