Two years into a brutal civil war, Sudan’s paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have announced the formation of a rival government, escalating an already dire conflict that has spiraled into the world’s worst humanitarian crisis.
RSF leader Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, widely known as “Hemedti,” declared his group was “building the only realistic future for Sudan.” In a statement shared on Telegram, he emphasized a vision of a “state of law,” not one ruled by individuals, claiming his movement seeks unity rather than dominance. “No tribe, region, or religion holds a monopoly over Sudanese identity,” he added.
This announcement coincided with a high-level conference in London marking the second anniversary of the war. UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy called for an urgent “pathway to peace” as the humanitarian toll continues to grow.
Meanwhile, violence rages on. The Sudanese army reported airstrikes on RSF positions near the besieged city of El Fasher, displacing tens of thousands from the already fragile Zamzam refugee camp.
According to the UN, more than 400 people have been killed in recent RSF attacks alone, including mass killings in displacement camps. In just the past few days, RSF fighters reportedly slaughtered over 200 civilians around El Fasher, the last major city in Darfur still under army control. Among the dead were 56 civilians killed in Um Kadadah, a town captured by RSF forces.
The scale of the violence is staggering. Entire displacement camps are under siege, including Zamzam, where RSF forces reportedly burned buildings and killed the entire medical team from Relief International, which operated the camp’s only clinic. The RSF claimed they were targeting government fighters allegedly hiding in the camp.
Both the RSF and the Sudanese army have been accused of war crimes—including genocide, sexual violence, and attacks on civilians—since the war erupted on April 15, 2023. Over 150,000 people have lost their lives, and more than 12 million have been forced to flee their homes.
The conflict has essentially split the country: the army holds the north and east, while RSF controls much of Darfur and parts of the south.
International condemnation has grown. The United States has accused RSF of committing genocide in Darfur and criticized both factions for civilian attacks. Pressure is also mounting on foreign actors—particularly the United Arab Emirates, historically linked to the RSF—to break their silence and condemn the violence outright.
In response to the recent atrocities, Foreign Secretary Lammy posted on social media: “Shocking reports are emerging from El Fasher, Darfur, where indiscriminate RSF attacks have killed civilians, including aid workers. This gives added urgency to Tuesday’s Sudan conference in London.”
UN Humanitarian Coordinator Clementine Nkweta-Salami voiced deep alarm at the spiraling violence, particularly in displacement camps like Zamzam and Abu Shouk, which shelter nearly 700,000 people displaced by war and famine.
With the humanitarian catastrophe growing by the day, world leaders are under intensifying pressure to act decisively—and fast.
