Sudan: RSF announce rival government
A coalition led by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has announced formation of a parallel government in Sudan, further cementing the country's territorial split between army-held and RSF-held regions. Paramilitary leader Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo ("Hemedti") will head a 15-person council with Abdel Aziz al-Hilu, head of the SPLM-N rebel group, as deputy. The African Union urged member states to not recognize the new administration. The RSF-led government wants to rival the Port Sudan-based army-led transitional government, which installed a prime minister in May, former UN official Kamil Idris.
The RSF has been accused of genocide and crimes against humanity since it began fighting the army in 2023. Establishing a government is seen as a strategic move to gain legitimacy, rebrand the group's image, acquire more advanced weaponry, and strengthen its position in the event of peace negotiations. The announcement was made just ahead of expected talks in Washington with the foreign ministers of Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the UAE—all backing different sides in the war—but those talks have now been postponed, faltering like so many previous mediation efforts.
From The New Humanitarian, Aug. 1. Internal links added.
Note: The RSF-led regime is based at Nyala, capital of South Darfur state, while the army-led government has taken refuge at Port Sudan on the Red Sea coast, with the official capital Khartoum only recently retaken from the RSF. The RSF controls much of Darfur region in the southwest, while the SPLM-N controls territory in Kordofan and Blue Nile regions in the southeast. This effectively leaves the RSF-led regime in control of much of the south, the army in control of the north, and the center of the country contested.
UN agencies report worsening humanitarian crisis in Sudan
The UN expressed concern on Aug. 4 over Sudan's worsening humanitarian crisis, amid rising starvation, displacement, and violence against civilians.
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) warned that the current humanitarian situation is critical. Armed violence between Sudanese government and RSF forces near displacement camps this week has resulted in "multiple civilian causalities" in the capital of El Fasher in North Darfur. According to OCHA, roughly 330,000 displaced people have fled their homes in North Darfur to escape violence and famine.
Violence is compounded by starvation and a cholera outbreak. OCHA said that El Fasher "remains under siege," with blockades preventing food deliveries by road. The city is "cut off from humanitarian access," increasing the price of basic goods by 460%—far beyond what local families can afford. (Jurist)
Sudan claims UAE sends Colombian mercenaries to back RSF
The United Arab Emirates has rejected claims from Sudan's armed forces that they shot down an Emirati plane in Darfur that was bringing Colombian mercenaries into the country to back the RSF. Colombian President Gustavo Petro said his government is trying to find out how many Colombians died in the attack, adding: "We will see if we can bring their bodies back." (Al Monitor)