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‘Phantom government': African Union rejects rival regime in Sudan
Deputy head of Sudan's sovereign council General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo speaks during a press conference at Rapid Support Forces head quarter in Khartoum, Sudan February 19, 2023. REUTERS
The African Union (AU) has firmly dismissed the legitimacy of a newly declared rival administration in Sudan, warning that recognising such a parallel government could derail fragile peace efforts and threaten the country's territorial integrity.
In a strongly worded statement issued on Wednesday, the AU's Peace and Security Council urged its member states and the broader international community to reject what it described as the 'so-called parallel government.'
The Council warned that any recognition of the breakaway authority—reportedly set up by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and allied groups—would have 'serious consequences on the peace efforts and the existential future of the country.'
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The declaration of a rival regime came last Saturday from RSF-aligned forces in western Sudan, particularly in the conflict-ridden Darfur region. The move has raised alarm among observers, as the RSF stands accused of committing war crimes and crimes against humanity amid Sudan's ongoing civil conflict.
Sudan has been gripped by violence since April 2023, when fighting erupted between the national army and the RSF, leading to widespread displacement, a deepening humanitarian crisis, and the collapse of governance structures in many regions.
The AU reiterated its commitment to Sudan's sovereignty and unity, calling on all stakeholders to engage in meaningful dialogue rather than deepen divisions through unilateral political manoeuvres.
The RSF-led Tasis Alliance appointed Gen. Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, the commander of the paramilitary group, as head of the sovereign council in the new administration. The 15-member council serves as head of the state.
The RSF grew out of the notorious Janjaweed militias, mobilized two decades ago by then-President Omar al-Bashir against populations that identify as Central or East African in Darfur. The Janjaweed were accused of mass killings, rapes and other atrocities.
In the current war, the RSF has been accused of numerous atrocities. The Biden administration slapped Dagalo with sanctions, saying the RSF and its proxies were committing genocide. The RSF has denied committing genocide.
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The ongoing conflict has devastated Sudan, creating an unprecedented humanitarian crisis in the country, with half the population facing spreading hunger and famine, according to the United Nations.
With inputs from agencies
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