NYALA, Sudan – Sudan’s paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have unveiled a new political coalition in a bold move that could reshape power dynamics in the country’s fractured landscape, naming RSF commander Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo (Hemedti) as its leader and rebel chief Abdelaziz Adam al-Hilu as deputy.
The coalition, named “Tasis” — Arabic for “Founding” — was launched in RSF-held Nyala, South Darfur, on Wednesday, signaling the group’s ambition to formalize governance in areas under their control and to challenge the Sudanese military-led government in Khartoum.
A New Rival Government Structure
The political alliance draws from the RSF, al-Hilu’s Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N), and several political and civil society actors who initially signed a unity charter in Nairobi earlier this year.
The rollout had been delayed by internal disagreements but now appears to have gained momentum.
Coalition spokesperson Alaa al-Din Nugud announced that the alliance has ratified its internal charter and established a 31-member governing council.
Hemedti will chair the body with al-Hilu as deputy, while Makin Hamid Tirab has been appointed rapporteur.
The council will serve as the coalition’s executive organ, tasked with political coordination and service delivery, with additional committees expected to be formed.
Confronting the War, Challenging the Status Quo
In his remarks, Nugud claimed that Sudan’s ongoing war could only be ended by challenging the actors responsible for igniting and prolonging the conflict — a clear jab at the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) led by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan.
“Ending the war now requires confronting the party that ignited it and seeks to prolong the conflict by sabotaging negotiations,” Nugud said, according to local broadcaster Radio Tamazuj.
He argued that Tasis is not simply a parallel authority, but a “corrective platform” aimed at building a new state rooted in “non-negotiable constitutional principles” that reflect the needs of Sudan’s diverse population.
The spokesperson stressed that the coalition would address historical marginalisation and systemic exclusion that have long plagued Sudan’s governance.
A Coalition Beyond Guns
Unlike previous alliances, Nugud said, Tasis brings together not just military actors but a broader cross-section of Sudanese society — including political factions, professional unions, civil society representatives, and leaders from marginalised communities.
“Roles have been distributed among the leadership, future government, and presidential council to share political, negotiation, and service-delivery responsibilities,” Nugud said.
The announcement comes amid heightened conflict between the RSF and Sudanese Armed Forces, especially in key battlegrounds such as Nyala, where SAF drone strikes recently targeted RSF training camps.
Meanwhile, humanitarian groups continue to warn of a deepening crisis.
According to Save the Children, nearly 933 health workers and patients have been killed in attacks on hospitals this year alone.
The World Food Programme has also cautioned that funding shortages are threatening relief for millions of Sudanese refugees.
