New government under RSF formed in South Darfur

The head of the civil administration in Sudan’s South Darfur State announced on Tuesday the formation of the state’s civil administration structures and government.

The Rapid Support Forces (RSF) had previously initiated the formation of civil administration structures in consultation with community leaders in a number of states under their control.

During a press conference in Nyala, Al-Zain Ahmed Al-Haj confirmed the formation of a government comprising ten ministers, whose names were announced. He also mentioned ongoing efforts to complete the civil administration structures by forming a foundational council of more than 100 prominent figures from the state, in addition to local executive directors.

Al-Zain stated that his government aims to ensure security and provide various services to the people of the state, despite existing challenges.

Political analyst Hatim Ayoub Abu Al-Hassan told Radio Tamazuj that the establishment of a parallel authority by the RSF, contrasting with the de facto government in Port Sudan, is a pressure tactic to strengthen their negotiating position.

Abu Al-Hassan explained, “The RSF cannot move forward with establishing a de facto government unless they also form the national structures of the central government. This move is merely a political manoeuvre to achieve social gains in the areas under their control.”

He highlighted the fragile situation in the Darfur region, emphasizing that despite the ongoing war, the situation demands concerted efforts from both the RSF and the armed movements present in the region.

The RSF has been at war with the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), headed by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, since 15 April 2023.

The hostilities, which began over plans to fold the RSF into the military, killed thousands of people, with 10,000-15,000 killed in el-Geneina alone, according to UN experts.

The RSF has seized all areas of the western region of Darfur except for El-Fasher, the capital of North Darfur State, which is controlled by the Sudanese army and its allies but currently besieged.