RSF to lead Sudan's parallel Government as opposition alliance finalises power structure

In a major step toward consolidating control in territories under its influence, Sudan's Rapid Support Forces (RSF) will head the presidential council of a newly formed parallel government, according to sources within the "Founding Sudan Alliance."

The Sudan People's Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N), led by Abdel Aziz al-Hilu, has been allocated the deputy leadership position.

Sources familiar with the internal deliberations told the Sudan Tribune on Tuesday that the RSF will control approximately 40% or more of the government's key positions, while SPLM-N will secure around 30%.

The remaining 30% will be distributed among other alliance groups, including the Revolutionary Front, a faction of the National Umma Party led by Fadallah Burma, and various civil and political organizations.

This division marks the culmination of weeks of tense negotiations over who would lead the alliance, with a dispute between the RSF and SPLM-N previously delaying the formal announcement of the new governing structure.

The parallel authority is being formed under the framework of a political declaration signed on February 22 in Nairobi.

The declaration—endorsed by the RSF, armed movements, and civil and political groups—called for the formation of a broad-based alliance and the establishment of an alternative government to rival the Sovereignty Council led by Sudan's army chief, General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan.

Secular state

The new constitution adopted by the alliance lays the ideological foundation for this alternative state, declaring Sudan a "secular, democratic, decentralized state based on the separation of religion and state, and equal citizenship as the basis for rights and duties."

The presidential council is expected to consist of 15 members, including regional governors. In a move meant to avoid politicization of executive functions, alliance leaders have agreed to appoint an independent technocrat as prime minister, rather than dividing the post along party lines.

The constitutional framework outlines a three-tier system of governance—federal, regional, and local—with Sudan redivided into eight administrative regions.

This mirrors earlier federal proposals that gained traction following Sudan's 2019 revolution but had stalled amid renewed fighting.

The RSF's ascendancy to head of the new political structure marks a bold attempt by the paramilitary force to legitimize its authority over the western and southern regions of Sudan, especially Darfur, which it effectively controls after a year of civil conflict.

The SPLM-N, with strongholds in the Nuba Mountains and Blue Nile, brings with it deep historical grievances and long-standing demands for autonomy and secular governance.

Analysts say the formation of this parallel government could signal a deepening fragmentation of Sudan's political geography.

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The internationally recognized government in Port Sudan, led by Burhan and supported by Egypt and other Arab allies, continues to claim legitimacy, while diplomatic efforts by IGAD and the African Union to bring the warring sides to the negotiating table have faltered.

The RSF's political move is likely to further complicate Sudan's diplomatic relations, especially with countries already critical of its human rights record and battlefield conduct.

Observers warn that the creation of rival governments entrenches Sudan's political deadlock and raises the specter of permanent state fracture.

Meanwhile, humanitarian agencies report dire conditions in RSF-controlled territories, with limited access to food, healthcare, and education.