A Parallel Government in Sudan… The Rapid Support Forces and Their Allies Sign the Founding Charter

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The Rapid Support Forces (RSF), along with Sudanese political forces, have signed the founding charter for establishing a “Government of Peace and Unity” in the areas under their control. This charter aims to create a secular democratic state based on freedom, equality, and justice, in response to the aspirations of the Sudanese people.

This move follows an agreement on a transitional constitution that ensures diversity, pending the formation of a unity government aimed at establishing peace and alleviating the suffering of citizens affected by the war. This could strip the Sudanese army of its control over state sovereignty.

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Analysts believe that forming a founding alliance that includes political and military groups, mainly from western Sudan, along with significant participation from political forces in the north, center, and east, is a bold step that could lead to major political polarization and put pressure on Abdel Fattah al-Burhan’s government.

According to insiders, al-Burhan’s government in Port Sudan has engaged in discriminatory practices in issuing and renewing passports, currency exchange, and has also prevented high school exams from taking place in RSF-controlled areas.

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Sudanese politicians Al-Hadi Idris and Ibrahim Al-Mirghani announced that the RSF signed a charter with political and armed groups on Saturday evening.

Idris, a former official and leader of an armed group, stated that the formation of the government would be announced from within the country in the coming days.

The signing included the National Umma Party, the Democratic Unionist Party, other political and civil forces, and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North, led by Abdelaziz al-Hilu, who controls vast areas and forces in South Kordofan and has long advocated for Sudan to adopt a secular approach.

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The signing ceremony took place in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, which is hosting a conference of Sudanese political forces. The charter explicitly bans “the establishment of any political party or organization based on religion, or any political group engaging in religious or racial propaganda.”

It also emphasizes that “equal citizenship is the foundation of constitutional rights and duties, without any discrimination based on ethnicity, religion, culture, language, or region.” Additionally, it stresses the need to uphold freedoms and adhere to international human rights conventions, particularly international justice.

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The charter calls for a “genuine decentralized governance system that recognizes all regions’ inherent right to manage their political, economic, and cultural affairs.”

While this government is unlikely to gain widespread international recognition, it is yet another sign of the country’s fragmentation after nearly two years of civil war. However, observers argue that it is a natural consequence of the military’s attempt to monopolize power and prolong the conflict.

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The signatories agreed that Sudan should be a “secular, democratic, and decentralized state” and called for the establishment of a “new, professional national army with a military doctrine reflecting Sudan’s diversity.” This army would be placed under civilian oversight from day one, alongside a professional police force and intelligence service with no partisan affiliations.

The charter states that the government’s mission is to unify the country and end the war, objectives that the army-backed government in Port Sudan has failed to achieve.

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Hemeti had previously shared power with the military and civilian politicians following Omar al-Bashir’s ousting in 2019. However, the two forces staged a coup in 2021 before their disagreements over integration led to war.

The conflict has devastated large parts of the country, triggering an “unprecedented” humanitarian crisis, pushing half of the population into famine.

Kenya’s hosting of the event has drawn protests from Sudan and internal criticism of President William Ruto for involving the country in a diplomatic conflict.

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