WANA (Aug 01) – Iran has expressed deep concern over the worsening internal conflict in Sudan after the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), led by Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo (known as Hemedti), announced the formation of a parallel government. The move has drawn sharp condemnation from both Sudanese authorities and regional observers.

 

Esmail Baghaei, spokesperson for Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said the declaration of a parallel administration contradicts the principles of national sovereignty and territorial integrity. Baghaei warned of the potential “devastating consequences” the move could have on Sudan’s stability and security.

 

“Foreign interference in Sudan’s internal affairs is deeply harmful. The only viable solution is an immediate ceasefire and the start of an inclusive, Sudanese-led dialogue free of external involvement,” Baghaei added.

 

Sudanese Government Condemns “Fictional” Government

Earlier this week, on Sunday, July 27, Sudan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a strongly worded statement denouncing the RSF’s declaration of a parallel government. The RSF, under Hemedti’s leadership, announced the new authority through social media posts, prompting backlash from Khartoum.

 

The Sudanese government labeled the RSF’s move as a “fantasy government”, accusing it of ignoring the suffering inflicted on Sudanese civilians through “terrorist operations, violence, and torture” allegedly perpetrated by the RSF.

 

“The announcement of this fictional government on social media only proves the RSF’s failure and defeat at the hands of Sudan’s national armed forces,” the statement said.

 

“The involvement of civilian actors in this alliance also exposes their role in a conspiracy launched on April 15, 2023, aimed at seizing power by force in coordination with these terrorist militias.”

 

Sudanese authorities also condemned Kenya’s reported support for the RSF-aligned coalition and its alleged hosting of a preliminary summit in Nairobi. The Foreign Ministry accused Kenya of violating Sudan’s sovereignty and breaching the principles of non-interference outlined in the UN Charter, African Union agreements, and IGAD protocols on the protection of territorial integrity.

 

Khartoum called on neighboring countries, international bodies, and global organizations to reject and condemn the RSF’s declaration and to avoid any form of engagement with the parallel authority, stressing that doing otherwise would constitute a breach of Sudan’s national sovereignty.

 

Background: A Conflict Rooted in Power Struggles

Sudan’s civil war erupted in April 2023 amid escalating tensions between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), led by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and the RSF under Hemedti.

 

The two forces had previously shared power with civilians following the 2019 ouster of President Omar al-Bashir, but tensions grew after a military coup in October 2021, which sidelined civilian leaders.

 

Hemedti, who was sanctioned earlier this year for alleged war crimes, is now attempting to consolidate power through the formation of a rival government—a move that further fragments an already war-torn nation and threatens to prolong the suffering of the Sudanese people.

Iran and Sudan flag

Iran and Sudan. Social media/ WANA News Agency