The African Union (AU) on Wednesday declared it would not recognise a “so-called parallel government” announced by Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF), as the two-year-long civil war continues to divide the country.
In a statement issued by its Peace and Security Council, the AU urged all member states and the international community to reject any attempt to fragment Sudan, warning that the RSF’s recent move could undermine ongoing peace efforts and jeopardise the country’s future.
The RSF, which has been fighting the Sudanese army since April 2023, unveiled a self-declared “government of peace and unity” on Saturday, naming Mohamed Hassan al-Ta’ayshi as prime minister and establishing a presidential council.
The AU stressed that such actions would have “serious consequences on the peace efforts and the existential future of the country.” The organisation also condemned external interference, accusing unnamed actors of fueling the conflict.
While the RSF controls most of Darfur and parts of Kordofan, the army—now based in Port Sudan—retains authority over the north, east, and central regions, including the recently reclaimed capital, Khartoum.
The internationally recognised government, formed in May, is led by former UN official Kamil Idris and remains aligned with army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan.
The ongoing conflict, rooted in a fallout between Burhan and RSF leader Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo—former allies who overthrew President Omar al-Bashir in 2019—has left tens of thousands dead and triggered one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises.
The United Nations has echoed AU concerns, warning that the RSF’s announcement could complicate diplomatic efforts to resolve the conflict. It also repeated warnings about foreign interference, particularly allegations that the United Arab Emirates has been arming the RSF in violation of a UN arms embargo. Abu Dhabi has consistently denied these claims despite growing evidence from international observers and UN experts.
