A Sudanese paramilitary group, the Rapid Support Forces (R.S.F.), has declared a parallel government in the western Darfur region, amid violence that has displaced nearly 400,000 civilians. The R.S.F.’s announcement stoked fears of a potentially disastrous territorial split in the country.
At least 300 people were killed and thousands more forced to flee a famine-stricken camp in El Fasher, which is now largely empty, according to aid workers. Doctors Without Borders closed its operations in Zamzam in February due to shelling and attacks on ambulances.
The R.S.F. leader, Gen. Mohamed Hamdan, described his “government of peace and unity” as a response to the country’s pro-democracy activists’ demands for inclusivity. However, his words are at odds with the group’s actions, which have been accused of atrocities by both sides in the conflict.
The international community has condemned the violence, with the United States calling it “in the strongest possible terms.” The European Union and Britain pledged $830 million in additional aid at a conference hosted by the British government. However, Sudanese officials criticized Emirati officials who attended the conference, denying allegations of support to the R.S.F.
The war between the Sudanese military and the R.S.F. began in April 2023, when fighting erupted in the capital, Khartoum. The conflict has taken a sharp turn with recent violence, including the army’s drive out of R.S.F. fighters from the capital.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/16/world/africa/sudan-rsf-zamzam.html