Charter for a Rival Government in Sudan: A New Step Amid an Ongoing Crisis

 

In a significant development amid the conflict raging in Sudan, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and their allies have signed a charter to establish a rival government to the existing authority. This move comes nearly two years after the outbreak of a devastating war between the RSF and the regular army, a conflict that has displaced over 12 million people and triggered what the United Nations has described as the world’s worst hunger and displacement crisis.

The signing of the agreement, which had been delayed multiple times, took place behind closed doors in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi. Among the signatories is a faction of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N), led by Abdelaziz al-Hilu, which controls parts of South Kordofan and Blue Nile states.

This step emerges in a complex context, as Sudan grapples with economic collapse and ethnic and regional strife exacerbated by the war. The conflict, which erupted in April 2023 between the army, led by Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and the RSF, commanded by Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo (Hemedti), has persisted despite international mediation efforts. The fighting has destroyed infrastructure, fueled widespread famine, and displaced millions both internally and externally, turning Sudan into the epicenter of an unprecedented humanitarian crisis.

The charter, as can be inferred from the context, aims to present an alternative government to challenge the authority led by the regular army, potentially lending political legitimacy to the RSF and its allies. However, a critical question remains: Will this rival government be able to assert control on the ground amid ongoing clashes? And how will it address internal divisions among its allies, particularly since armed movements like the SPLM-N have their own agendas that may not fully align with the RSF’s objectives?

On the international stage, this development may elicit mixed reactions. While some countries might view it as an opportunity to find a political resolution to the crisis, others—particularly those supporting the regular army—may see it as a threat to regional stability. The choice of Kenya as the signing location reflects its growing role as a regional mediator, though it also places the country in the challenging position of ensuring the agreement’s implementation without binding guarantees.

the signing of a charter to form a rival government appears to be an attempt to reshape the dynamics of power in Sudan, but its success hinges on the signatories’ ability to transform paper into reality. Amid the destruction and suffering wrought by the war, hope lingers that this step might mark the beginning of an end to the conflict, rather than just another chapter in a long series of divisions.