Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (R.S.F.) and its allies signed a charter late Saturday to establish a parallel government in areas under their control, amid the country’s devastating civil war. The agreement, which was signed in Nairobi, Kenya, aims to pave the way for peace after nearly two years of conflict that has killed thousands and caused widespread famine.
Critics have called the move an audacious gambit by a group accused of genocide, warning it could further destabilize Sudan. The charter’s signatories include the deputy leader of the S.P.L.M.-N., a secular-minded rebel group that recently joined forces with the R.S.F.
The signing ceremony took place behind closed doors, but a video showed the group’s deputy leader holding aloft a copy of the charter in a hall filled with delegates. The document calls for a “secular, democratic and decentralized state” in Sudan that respects citizens’ religious and ethnic identity.
However, many Sudanese question the R.S.F.’s ability to govern in such a manner, given its reputation for brutality and abuses. The group has not announced a timeline for forming its breakaway government.
The move comes as Kenya faces pressure from Western investors, which have withdrawn funding due to human rights concerns. The R.S.F.-led initiative has sparked diplomatic tensions with the US, which has accused the group of genocide. American officials say the UAE’s support for the R.S.F. remains a key factor in its military strength.
The signing ceremony follows recent defeats on the battlefield, where the R.S.F. has lost ground to the Sudanese military. The group still controls significant territory, including the city of El Fasher, which is under siege.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/23/world/africa/sudan-rsf-paramilitaries-kenya-charter-government-civil-war.html