Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, known as Hemedti, commander of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), was sworn in as head of a parallel government in Nyala, Darfur—deepening the country’s divisions after 28 months of civil war.
The swearing-in took place as fierce clashes continue between the RSF and the Sudanese army, particularly around the strategic city of El-Fasher.
Hemedti’s forces now control most of Darfur, while the army maintains its grip on central and eastern regions.
From Port Sudan, the official government denounced the move as a “desperate attempt,” while international organizations warned of its implications for Sudan’s unity.
The war has already produced the world’s worst humanitarian crisis: half of the population faces hunger, and hundreds of thousands in Darfur have been under siege for more than 500 days.
