Sudan’s Shocking Political Shake-Up: RSF’s Bold Move Towards a Parallel Government
Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and its allied groups have taken a significant step in reshaping the country’s political landscape by signing a transitional constitution. This move pushes them closer to establishing a parallel government amidst an ongoing two-year war with the army. The war has brought devastating consequences, including mass displacement, extreme hunger, and horrifying episodes of ethnically-charged violence and sexual abuse. Despite being on the defensive in recent conflicts, the RSF’s latest strategy appears to be a direct challenge to the army-led government, signaling a bold and controversial shift in Sudan’s struggle for control.
The RSF’s move comes at a time of intense fighting, with both factions vying for dominance. On Tuesday, the RSF launched a long-range drone attack targeting the Merowe Dam, Sudan’s largest power generation station. This assault knocked out electricity in large parts of northern Sudan, amplifying the suffering of civilians. Meanwhile, the army announced progress in the Sharg el-Nil area, aiming to encircle the RSF in the capital, Khartoum. The conflict has grown increasingly destructive, with infrastructure attacks further crippling a nation already grappling with severe humanitarian crises.
What makes this new transitional constitution particularly striking is its intent to replace the previous constitution established after the army and RSF jointly ousted Omar al-Bashir in 2019. While that document was part of a push towards civilian rule, the RSF’s latest maneuver appears to undermine those efforts entirely. This shift traces back to 2021 when the army and RSF staged a coup, abruptly halting the country’s transition to democracy. Their relationship soured further in April 2023, when plans for a renewed transition triggered a brutal conflict, deepening Sudan’s political turmoil.
The newly signed constitution outlines a “New Sudan,” envisioning a federal, secular state divided into eight regions. It includes a bill of basic rights and grants regions the right to self-determination, contingent on the separation of religion and state. This radical blueprint not only aims to legitimize the RSF’s authority but also directly challenges the army-led government by providing a framework for a competing administration. The RSF and its allies hope that formalizing this government will enable them to secure advanced arms imports and gain international recognition.
Notably, the signatories of this constitution include the influential Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N), a secular-minded group that controls large swathes of South Kordofan, along with several smaller factions. The document’s most provocative element is the call for a unified national army, with the RSF and its allies positioning themselves as the “nucleus” of this future force. While elections are mentioned as an eventual goal, there is no concrete timetable, further casting doubt on whether this plan will pave the way for genuine democracy or entrench the RSF’s grip on power.
Despite the RSF’s ambitious plans, many questions remain unanswered. The timeline for forming this parallel government is murky, with no clarity on who will lead it or where its headquarters will be. The RSF and its allies insist the government will take shape within weeks, but observers remain skeptical. As Sudan teeters on the edge of a deeper crisis, the RSF’s bold push for a parallel administration adds yet another layer of uncertainty to an already chaotic political landscape. The world watches anxiously as this power struggle unfolds, with the fate of millions hanging in the balance.
