Sudan RSF Forms Parallel Government Amid Humanitarian Crisis, AU Rejects Move

Sudan is embroiled in a severe two-year civil war between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which recently announced the formation of a 'parallel government' called the 'Peace and Unity' government led by Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo and Prime Minister Mohamed Hassan al-Ta’ayshi. The African Union (AU) and the United Nations have strongly condemned this move, refusing to recognize the RSF's parallel government and urging member states and the international community to reject the fragmentation of Sudan, warning it could undermine peace efforts and the country's future. The AU Peace and Security Council has called for a halt to external interference, which has been fueling the conflict, with the United Arab Emirates notably accused of violating a UN arms embargo by supplying the RSF. Meanwhile, the internationally recognized government, aligned with the army and led by former UN official Kamil Idris, controls much of the country’s north, east, and center. The humanitarian situation remains dire, with over 15 million displaced since the war's onset and reports of famine and disease outbreaks in refugee camps. Diplomatic efforts have been complicated by the RSF's actions, including the postponement of peace talks by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio.