The African Union said Wednesday it will not recognize a rival government declared by Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces, urging member states to follow suit as the country’s two-year civil war deepens.
The AU's Peace and Security Council "called on all AU Member States and the international community to reject the fragmentation of Sudan and not recognize the so-called 'parallel government' which has serious consequences on the peace efforts and the existential future of the country," it said in a statement.
Sudan is split, with the army controlling the north, east and center, having recently retaken the capital Khartoum, while the RSF holds most of Darfur and parts of Kordofan, where recent attacks have killed hundreds according to local rights groups.
The internationally recognized army-aligned government, formed in May, is headed by former U.N. official Kamil Idris.
On Saturday, the RSF announced its own "government of peace and unity" with Mohamed Hassan al-Ta'ayshi as prime minister and a presidential council.
United Nations officials warned the move could deepen Sudan's fragmentation and complicate diplomatic efforts to end the conflict that began in April 2023.
The AU statement also "unequivocally condemned all forms of external interference, which is fuelling the Sudanese conflict."
The U.N. has repeatedly warned of outside forces fueling the war.
The United Arab Emirates has been widely accused of arming the RSF, in violation of a U.N. arms embargo on Sudan's western Darfur region.
Abu Dhabi has issued repeated denials, despite multiple reports from U.N. experts, diplomats, U.S. politicians and international organizations.
The war began after a power struggle between army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and Dagalo – once allies who ousted Omar al-Bashir in 2019.
Two years later, the pair led a coup that derailed Sudan's transition to civilian rule.
The war has killed tens of thousands and created the world's largest hunger and displacement crises.
