Sudanese coalition led by paramilitary RSF announces parallel government

​​​​​​​By Adel Abdelrheem and Rania Abu Shamala

KHARTOUM, Sudan/ISTANBUL (AA) – The Sudanese Founding Alliance, led by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, announced Saturday the formation of a parallel government.

Spokesperson Alaa El Din Nugud said in a recorded video statement posted on the coalition’s Facebook page that the leadership body decided to establish a "Presidential Council for the Transitional Peace Government," chaired by RSF commander Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo "Hemetti,” with Abdelaziz al-Hilu as his deputy.

Nugud added that the council includes 15 members, while Mohamed Hassan Al-Taishi was selected as prime minister of the new government.

In March, Sudanese Foreign Minister Ali Yousif Al-Sharif commented on statements by the RSF and allied groups about their intention to form a parallel government. He said the move was "unacceptable and will have no role in Sudan’s future."

Al-Sharif said at a news conference on Feb. 23 that Sudan rejects any recognition by foreign states of any parallel government.

That was after the RSF and several allied political forces and armed movements signed a political charter in Kenya on Feb. 22 to establish a parallel government.

As of late Saturday, Sudan’s official government had not issued a comment on the formation of the parallel administration.

The army and RSF have been fighting a war since April 2023 that has killed more than 20,000 victims and displaced 14 million, according to the UN and local authorities.

Research from US universities, however, estimates the death toll at around 130,000.