RSF Leader Declares Parallel Government in Strategic Power Play

On April 15, General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, commander of Sudan’s paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), announced the establishment of a rival political entity—termed the "Government of Peace and Unity." Delivered in a pre-recorded address marking the second anniversary of Sudan’s civil war, the declaration signifies more than a symbolic gesture; it signals an overt attempt to institutionalize RSF control over vast swathes of contested territory.

Dagalo’s timing is calculated. By framing the move as a response to a prolonged governance vacuum, he is attempting to legitimize RSF dominance over regions such as Darfur and parts of Kordofan, while co-opting factions of the Sudan Liberation Movement to bolster political credibility. The creation of this alternative administration appears designed not only to challenge the authority of the official Sudanese government but also to position the RSF as a state-building actor capable of rallying a diverse coalition under a unifying, albeit self-serving, banner.

The implications of this development are profound. Analysts warn that Dagalo’s declaration risks entrenching Sudan’s de facto partition, drawing uncomfortable parallels to Libya’s fractured governance and the path that led to South Sudan’s independence in 2011. Reports of intensifying violence in western Darfur—where over 400 people have reportedly been killed in recent RSF operations—underscore the military coercion underpinning this political gambit.

Crucially, the RSF’s move reflects a broader strategic calculus: by embedding itself as a governing authority, it not only deepens its territorial entrenchment but also complicates international diplomatic efforts. The alternative government serves as a negotiating tool, allowing Dagalo to reframe the RSF not merely as a military faction, but as a political stakeholder demanding recognition in any future settlement.

International Response: Ceasefire Demands Amid Escalation

In response to the deepening crisis, G7 foreign ministers issued a joint statement condemning the RSF’s actions and urging both the RSF and the Sudanese Armed Forces to commit to an immediate, unconditional ceasefire. The statement reaffirmed international concern over civilian casualties and the disintegration of Sudanese national unity. However, in the absence of a cohesive diplomatic strategy or meaningful leverage over local actors, such calls may have limited impact in altering the trajectory of the conflict.