CAIRO –Al-Yurae- Al-Quds Al-Arabi
Participants in the Consultative Mechanism for Peace Efforts in Sudan, which convened recently in Cairo, sent clear and firm messages rejecting the initiative by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and their allies to establish a parallel government. The meeting reaffirmed a unified stance against any such step, stressing the importance of safeguarding Sudan’s unity and stability, and calling for an immediate humanitarian truce and a comprehensive ceasefire.
The Cairo Meeting
Earlier this week, Cairo hosted the fifth consultative meeting on resolving the Sudanese crisis, with participation from representatives of the African Union, the Arab League, the United Nations, IGAD, the European Union, and diplomatic delegations from permanent members of the UN Security Council and other concerned nations.
Saudi Deputy Foreign Minister Waleed Al-Khuraiji declared that the initiative announced by the “Tasiss Alliance” — namely, forming a parallel government — is “completely unacceptable” and “undermines ongoing peace efforts.” He warned that such a move poses a threat to Sudan’s unity, sovereignty, and regional security, including the safety of the Red Sea corridor.
“The establishment of parallel entities outside legitimate national institutions is alarming and disrupts political efforts to resolve the crisis,” Al-Khuraiji said.
The Saudi official emphasized that the Kingdom’s top priorities regarding Sudan are ensuring stability, a ceasefire, the preservation of state institutions, national unity, territorial integrity, and the protection of national resources.
He reiterated that the solution must be Sudanese-led and Sudanese-owned, grounded in respect for Sudan’s sovereignty and unity, and in support of legitimate state institutions. Saudi Arabia, he added, “continues to work to bridge gaps and achieve a ceasefire that ends the worsening humanitarian crisis and alleviates the suffering of the Sudanese people.”
Al-Khuraiji also underscored Saudi Arabia’s support for the resumption of political dialogue in line with the Jeddah Declaration on the Commitment to Protect Civilians (signed May 11, 2023) and the Short-Term Ceasefire and Humanitarian Arrangements Agreement (signed May 20, 2023) between the warring parties.
He further called for halting foreign interference and curbing the flow of illicit weapons and foreign fighters, which he described as essential to achieving a lasting ceasefire and facilitating humanitarian access through safe corridors. He additionally welcomed the Sudanese government’s decision to open the Adré border crossing with Chad.
Saudi Arabia and the U.S. Position
While Riyadh called the move alarming, U.S. policy advisor Masad Boulos, Senior Adviser to former President Donald Trump on Arab and African Affairs, told reporters that Washington does not recognize any parallel entities in Sudan, though it maintains contact with all parties to facilitate peace and end the war.
“We do not equate the legitimate Sudanese government with any parallel groups,” Boulos stressed. “There is a recognized government in Sudan, and that is the one Washington deals with.”
He noted a broad international consensus within the Quad (U.S., U.K., Saudi Arabia, and the UAE) on the urgent need for a truce in Sudan, affirming that a peaceful solution begins with a ceasefire and culminates in a political process
European Union and Egyptian Statements
Wolfram Vetter, the Head of the European Union Delegation to Sudan, who attended the Cairo meeting, said that the EU had reaffirmed its support for Sudan’s unity and its categorical rejection of any arrangements or shadow governments that could deepen divisions or prolong the conflict.
According to Vetter, the EU emphasized the need for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire and a total cessation of hostilities to protect civilians and pave the way for a credible political process that restores stability and sets the country on the path to peace.
Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty echoed the same stance during a joint press conference with UN Envoy to Sudan Ramtane Lamamra, asserting that Egypt will not allow the collapse of Sudan’s state institutions under any circumstances.
He stated that “prolonged chaos in Sudan is unacceptable,” stressing that Cairo will not stand by idly and will take necessary measures to preserve Sudan’s unity, territorial integrity, and sovereignty.
Abdelatty made it clear that no entity parallel to the Sudanese state — particularly the national army — would be recognized, implicitly referring to the RSF.
RSF Reaction
In its first official response, the Rapid Support Forces criticized the Cairo meeting’s outcomes as “disappointing,” claiming that Egypt’s stance was biased in favor of the army. The RSF stated that the security situation is deteriorating and prolonging the war, while insisting that it does not seek or require international recognition.
The Parallel Government
In July 2025, the “Tasiss Alliance” — led by the RSF — announced from Nyala, the capital of South Darfur, the formation of a parallel government in western Sudan. The self-declared government included a 15-member Presidential Council, chaired by RSF commander Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo (Hemedti), with Abdulaziz al-Hilu, leader of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North, as deputy president. Former Sovereign Council member Mohamed Hassan al-Taayshi was named prime minister.
The council appointed governors for eight federal regions outlined in the transitional constitution signed by the alliance in Nairobi: Darfur, South Kordofan/Nuba Mountains, the new Blue Nile region, the Central Region, the Eastern Region, the Northern Region, Khartoum, and Kordofan. Several ministers were also named.
Despite six months passing since the announcement in Nyala, the “Tasiss Government” has not received recognition from any country or regional or international organization. The African Union, the Arab League, the European Union, and the United Nations have all publicly rejected any attempt to form a parallel government in Sudan.
