EU warns against partition of Sudan, urges civilian rule

March 11, 2025 (BRUSSELS) – The European Union on Tuesday warned that plans for a parallel government by Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF) risked dividing the country and undermining a return to civilian rule.

The EU reiterated its commitment to Sudan’s “unity and territorial integrity” and the sovereignty of the Sudanese people, according to a statement from a spokesperson for the European External Action Service (EEAS).

Plans for a separate government by the RSF “jeopardise the democratic aspirations of the Sudanese people for an inclusive Sudanese-owned process that leads to the restoration of civilian rule,” the statement said.

On Feb. 23, the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and several political groups signed a charter in Nairobi to establish a parallel government in areas under their control. The move has been rejected by the UN, the United States, the Arab League, and countries in the region, raising fears of further division in the war-torn country.

The EU called on all parties in the conflict to cease harassment of civil society representatives and to stop restricting civic space.

The EU has established a framework for sanctions against individuals or entities that obstruct efforts to resume Sudan’s political transition.