Sudan crisis could worsen as paramilitary forces push for parallel government, UN warns

The United Nations has raised an alarm, stressing that the ongoing conflict in Sudan could deepen if the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) proceed with their plan to establish a rival government.

“Preserving the unity of Sudan, its sovereignty, and territorial integrity remains a key ingredient for a sustainable resolution of the conflict,” UN Secretary-General spokesman Stéphane Dujarric said Wednesday.

The RSF, which has been locked in a brutal war with Sudan’s army since April 2023, announced plans to sign a “peace and unity government” charter at a high-profile event in Nairobi.

Initially scheduled for Tuesday at the Kenyatta International Convention Center, the signing has been postponed to Friday.

Dujarric expressed “deep concern” over any move that could further fracture the country and escalate hostilities. Sudan’s foreign ministry—loyal to army chief Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan—also condemned Kenya for hosting the event.

The Sudanese conflict has already claimed tens of thousands of lives, displaced over 12 million people, and triggered the world’s largest hunger and refugee crisis.

The prospect of competing governments threatens to entrench divisions and prolong the suffering of civilians caught in the crossfire.