Sudan’s paramilitary group, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), announced plans to establish a breakaway government during a high-profile event in Nairobi, Kenya, despite facing serious allegations of human rights abuses back home.
This political move comes shortly after the United States formally accused the RSF of genocide. The RSF has been engaged in a brutal conflict with Sudan’s national army, resulting in widespread devastation and displacement across the country. Despite suffering military defeats in Khartoum and central Sudan, the RSF is seeking to maintain control over areas it currently holds.
During the event, speakers criticized the Sudanese military and spoke of creating a “new Sudan.” However, the gathering was overshadowed by fresh reports of atrocities committed by RSF fighters. Activists and local officials accused the RSF of killing over 200 civilians, including children, during an attack on two villages in White Nile state. Survivors reported that some victims were shot as they tried to escape across the Nile River.
In another incident, RSF forces allegedly stormed a famine-stricken camp in Darfur, killing dozens of civilians. Sudan’s foreign ministry reported that the death toll from recent RSF attacks has reached 433. Human rights groups also accused Sudan’s national army of targeting civilians suspected of supporting the RSF, adding to the humanitarian crisis.
Since the conflict erupted in April 2023, Sudan has plunged into chaos, leading to tens of thousands of deaths, the displacement of over 12 million people, and a rapidly worsening famine. The United Nations has launched a $6 billion appeal for humanitarian aid.
Despite international condemnation, the RSF continues to receive financial and military backing from the United Arab Emirates, strengthening its position in the conflict.
The choice of Nairobi as the location for the political event has sparked controversy, with some Sudanese officials accusing Kenya of aligning with the RSF. If the RSF moves forward with its plans, it could deepen divisions in Sudan, potentially leading to a split similar to the post-civil war fragmentation in Libya.
