After 27-months of civil war, a Sudanese coalition led by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces says it has formed a parallel.
The announcement over the weekend came nearly five months after it announced its intention to do so, and raises concerns that the move could prolong the devastating conflict.
RSF leader General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo was named head of the new 15-member Presidential Council.
Abdel Aziz al-Hilu, leader of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N) – one of the country’s largest rebel groups – was appointed as vice-president.
Civilian politician, Mohamed Hassan Al-Ta’ayshi, who served on the Transitional Sovereign Council from 2019 until the 2021 military coup, was named as prime minister.
The parallel government aims to challenge the military-aligned international-recognised administration’s legitimacy.
However, the military led by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, condemned the creation of a parallel government and has promised to keep fighting until it controls all of Sudan.