In a striking move that sends tremors through an already fractured Sudan, the paramilitary outfit known as the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has proclaimed the establishment of a rival government. This audacious announcement seeks to extend control over territories in its grasp, including the war-torn western region of Darfur. Recent United Nations reports bear grim witness to the havoc wrought by this group, with more than 400 souls perishing in the wake of its attacks. But was this move just a reaction to the pressing chaos, or is it a calculated step toward deeper division?
General Mohammed Hamdan Daglo, the charismatic yet controversial commander of the RSF, delivered this proclamation on a seemingly ordinary Tuesday. It was not just any day, however; it marked the second anniversary of a civil war that has deeply scarred the nation’s fabric. In a recorded speech, echoing through the corridors of international diplomacy, Daglo declared, “On this anniversary, we proudly declare the establishment of the Government of Peace and Unity.” It’s a name that paints an ironic picture, urging one to ponder—can peace spring from amidst the ashes of endless conflict?
Joining hands with the RSF-led administration are several factions, including a segment of the Sudan Liberation Movement, which wields influence over parts of the Kordofan region. Daglo, a figure mired in controversy and sanctioned by the U.S. for alleged genocidal acts in Darfur, elaborated on his vision. He spoke of a “15-member Presidential Council” that he envisions as representative of the nation’s varied regions. But how representative can it truly be when birthed in the shadows of such discord?
The declaration comes at a tumultuous time for the RSF, which has faced numerous military defeats. Major cities, once their strongholds like Khartoum, have slipped through their fingers over recent months. Forced into a strategic retreat, they now consolidate power in the expansive, rugged lands of Darfur. The specter of Sudan’s partition looms large, drawing ominous comparisons to Libya’s enduring strife, where dual administrations have jostled for supremacy over a decade of turbulence.
Reflecting on Sudan’s past, one recalls the poignant tale of South Sudan’s secession in 2011—a geopolitical earthquake that resonated across the African continent. In the bloody prelude to this event, the notorious Janjaweed militias, ancestors of the RSF, incited fear and horror with acts of egregious violence. Their brutal legacy paints a stark picture of the potential future if history’s lessons go unheeded.
International reactions have been swift and firm. Nations, notably the United States, have denounced the RSF’s attempts to assert authority over territories under their banner. In March, echoing the concerns of many, the State Department’s Bureau of African Affairs critiqued these endeavors as “unhelpful for peace & security,” flagging potential cascading instability. But might these declarations of principled denunciation prove too feeble against the staggering momentum of on-ground developments?
April 15, 2023, dawned grimly for Sudan—a day when festering antagonisms between the entrenched military establishment and the RSF erupted into widespread warfare. In the aftermath, the statistics are staggering: over 24,000 lives have been claimed, a figure that reality likely dwarfs. The relentless fight has rendered approximately 13 million people homeless, with 4 million seeking refuge beyond Sudan’s borders, casting shadows of famine over vast swathes of the nation.
The brutal conflict has entrenched itself in macabre patterns—ethnically motivated killings, mass rapes, and heinous acts that violate every norm of humanity. Darfur emerges as the eye of this storm, a chilling tableau of what the U.N. designates as crimes against humanity.
Daglo’s pronouncement follows a chilling episode where RSF troops and allied militias ravaged two already famine-stricken camps in North Darfur. These bastions of refuge—Zamzam and Abu Shouk—were home to 700,000 displaced Sudanese. The UN’s humanitarian office, drawing from local reports, recounts the horror: over 400 dead, amongst them 12 aid workers and many children. This merciless assault forced up to 400,000 individuals to flee Zamzam camp recently, leaving it an eerie ghost of human despair. As some remained trapped, an oppressive siege restricted their movement, particularly targeting the vitality and hope that reside in youth.
In such times of tumult, we must ask ourselves: what toll will history exact for these transgressions, and what lengths will humanity venture to avert further cataclysm?
Edited By Ali Musa
Axadle Times international–Monitoring
