The African Union (AU) has firmly rejected the formation of a rival government by Sudan’s paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), warning the move could escalate the country’s ongoing conflict and derail fragile peace efforts.
This comes days after the RSF announced a 15-member governing council, naming Mohamed Hassan al-Ta’ayshi as prime minister and its leader, General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo (also known as Hemedti), as head of a newly declared presidential council.
In a statement, the AU urged its member states and the international community not to recognize the RSF-led administration, stressing that the creation of a parallel government risks further fragmenting Sudan.
The RSF and the Sudanese army have been engaged in a brutal conflict since April 2023. While the army retains control over Khartoum and large parts of the north, east, and central Sudan, the RSF holds significant territory in Darfur and parts of Kordofan, where recent offensives have left hundreds dead, according to human rights groups.
The AU reiterated its commitment to a negotiated settlement and called on all parties to resume dialogue, warning that unilateral political moves could jeopardize the already fragile efforts to end the war.
