The African Union (AU) yesterday expressed “deep concern” over the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) forming a parallel government in Sudan, warning the move threatens the country’s territorial integrity.
In a statement the bloc said it condemned the move and “warned that such action carries a huge risk of partitioning of the country”.
Last month, the Rapid Support Forces and eight allied movements announced a “peace and unity” government in Nairobi and pledged to “build a civil, democratic, decentralised state based on freedom, equality, and justice, without any cultural, ethnic, religious, or regional bias.”
In early March, the same parties signed a “transitional constitution” again in Nairobi.
The AU called on all its member states, as well as the international community, “not to recognise any parallel government or entity that aims to divide the Republic of Sudan or its institutions and govern part of its territory.”
On Tuesday, the European Union said that the parallel government threatens Sudan’s democratic aspirations, echoing a statement issued by the UN Security Council last week.
Fighting between the Sudanese army and the RSF has killed tens of thousands and displaced more than 12 million people, causing “an unprecedented humanitarian crisis on the African continent” according to the UN.
The fighting, which erupted over efforts to integrate the RSF into the army, has torn Sudan apart, with the army controlling the east and north of the country, while the RSF controls most of the Darfur region in the west and parts of the south.
READ: Sudan foreign ministry welcomes African Union condemnation of RSF parallel government