What's happened
Fighting in Sudan’s Darfur and Kordofan regions intensifies as the RSF forms a parallel government, challenging the military-backed authority. Recent attacks, including in North Kordofan, have caused civilian casualties, displacement, and worsening humanitarian crises. The RSF’s move aims to boost legitimacy amid ongoing conflict and regional instability. Today’s date: Sun, 10 Aug 2025.
What's behind the headline?
The recent formation of a parallel government by the RSF signals a strategic move to legitimize its authority and challenge the military-led government amid ongoing conflict. This act deepens Sudan’s fragmentation, risking a de facto partition of the country. The RSF’s appointment of Mohamed Hassan al-Ta'ayshi as prime minister and Mohamed Hamdan 'Hemedti' Dagalo as president of the presidential council aims to bolster its political standing, but it also complicates international diplomatic efforts. The move appears to be a calculated effort to gain recognition from foreign allies and increase leverage in future negotiations, especially as peace talks are set to resume without the participation of either the RSF or the army. The escalation in Darfur and Kordofan, with intensified shelling, food shortages, and disease outbreaks, underscores the deteriorating humanitarian situation. The rainy season’s onset threatens to facilitate RSF’s military advances, particularly around key strategic locations like el-Fashir and el-Obeid, which are vital for the Sudanese army’s ability to project power and deliver aid. The conflict’s trajectory suggests a high likelihood of further regional destabilization, with potential for increased displacement and humanitarian crises. The formation of rival governments indicates a possible permanent division, which could hinder peace and prolong the suffering of civilians.
What the papers say
The New Arab reports on the RSF’s declaration of a parallel government and its implications for Sudan’s fragmentation, highlighting the appointment of Mohamed Hassan al-Ta'ayshi as prime minister and Mohamed Hamdan 'Hemedti' Dagalo as president of the presidential council. Al Jazeera provides detailed coverage of the ongoing violence in Darfur and Kordofan, emphasizing the humanitarian toll, including food shortages, disease outbreaks, and the strategic importance of cities like el-Fashir and el-Obeid. Both sources underscore the escalation of conflict and the regional risks, with The New Arab focusing on the political developments and Al Jazeera on the humanitarian crisis and military dynamics. The articles collectively illustrate how the RSF’s political moves are intertwined with the worsening humanitarian situation, and how external influences and regional instability are shaping the conflict’s future.
How we got here
The conflict in Sudan began in April 2023, rooted in a power struggle between the army and the RSF, which was once allied. The RSF’s recent declaration of a parallel government and appointment of a prime minister and presidential council mark a significant escalation, aiming to challenge the existing military authority. The war has caused tens of thousands of deaths, widespread displacement, and severe humanitarian crises, especially in Darfur and Kordofan. External actors, including the UAE, are accused of fueling the conflict through arms supplies, complicating peace efforts. The situation remains volatile as fighting continues in key regions, with the potential for further regional destabilization.
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Common question
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What is the RSF's new government in Sudan?
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More on these topics
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The Rapid Support Forces are Sudanese paramilitary forces operated by the Sudanese Government. The RSF grew out of, and is primarily composed of, the Janjaweed militias which fought on behalf of the Sudanese government during the War in Darfur, killing an
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Sudan, officially the Republic of the Sudan, is a country in North-East Africa. It is bordered by Egypt to the north, Libya to the northwest, Chad to the west, the Central African Republic to the southwest, South Sudan to the south, Ethiopia to the southe
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General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, generally referred to as Hemetti, Hemedti, Hemeti or Hemitte, is a Janjaweed from the Rizeigat tribe in Darfur, who was the Deputy head of the Transitional Military Council following the 2019 Sudanese coup d'état.
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The Sudanese Armed Forces are the military forces of the Republic of the Sudan. During the 39-month transition to democracy that started in September 2019, the August 2019 Draft Constitutional Declaration defines the Supreme Commander of the Sudanese Arme
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Abdelaziz Adam Al-Hilu is a Sudanese politician and the current chairperson of the Sudan People's Liberation Army - SPLA-North.
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Omar Hassan Ahmad al-Bashir is a Sudanese politician who served as the seventh President of Sudan from 1989 to 2019, when he was deposed in a coup d'état. He was subsequently incarcerated, tried and convicted on multiple corruption charges.
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Lt. Gen. Abdel Fattah Abdelrahman al-Burhan is a Sudanese politician and Sudanese Army general who is currently serving as Chairman of the Sovereignty Council of Sudan, the country's collective transitional head of state.
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Darfur is a region of western Sudan. Dār is an Arabic word meaning "home [of]" – the region was named Dardaju while ruled by the Daju, who migrated from Meroë c. 350 AD, and it was renamed Dartunjur when the Tunjur ruled the area.
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Al-Fashir (also alternatively rendered as El Fasher; Arabic: الفاشر, romanized: al-Fāshir) is a city in western Sudan. It serves as the capital of the North Darfur State and is located in the Darfur region of Sudan, and is 195 kilometres (121 mi) n
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North Kordofan is one of the 18 wilayat or states of Sudan. It has an area of 185,302 km² and an estimated population of 2,920,890. El-Obeid is the capital of the state.
North Kordofan is generally arid and desert.