The African Union’s Peace and Security Council (PSC) has rejected the declaration of a parallel government by Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF), warning that it poses a threat to the country’s unity.
Following a meeting on March 11 in Addis Ababa, the PSC urged AU member states and the international community not to recognize or support any such entity.
The rejection follows the RSF and 18 allied movements announcing a self-proclaimed “peace and unity” government in Nairobi, a move that has drawn international scrutiny. Kenya, which initially defended its involvement, later softened its stance.
The AU reaffirmed its commitment to Sudan’s sovereignty and called for peaceful negotiations, as the country’s ongoing conflict continues to claim lives and displace millions.
Sudan has been engulfed in violence since April 2023, when tensions between the military and paramilitary rebels erupted in the capital, Khartoum, and spread across the country.
The conflict has killed more than 24,000 people and displaced over 14 million , roughly 30% of Sudan’s population according to the United Nations. An estimated 3.2 million Sudanese have fled to neighboring countries.