Sudan’s RSF Establish Civilian Administration in Gezira State

 Members of Sudan's Rapid Support Forces (AFP)
Members of Sudan's Rapid Support Forces (AFP)
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Sudan’s RSF Establish Civilian Administration in Gezira State

 Members of Sudan's Rapid Support Forces (AFP)
Members of Sudan's Rapid Support Forces (AFP)

In a surprise move, Sudan's Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have set up a civilian administration for Gezira State in central Sudan.

The team comprises 31 members, led by Sadiq Ahmed. This decision follows chaos in the state since the army withdrew from the Wad Madani base on December 18 last year, which the RSF took over.

The RSF announced the formation of a civil council, electing Ahmed as its head. The election took place with significant participation from local civil society figures.

This development raises concerns about power-sharing between the military and the RSF in civilian matters, similar to situations in other countries in the region.

Apart from Gezira State, the RSF controls West Darfur, South Darfur, Central Darfur, and East Darfur states. However, civilian administrations have not been established there; instead, military leaders from the RSF oversee administrative tasks.

Following his election, Ahmed held a press conference in Gezira’s capital, Wad Madani.

He promised to establish a strong foundation for federal governance despite challenges and urged citizens to return home, condemning military airstrikes on their houses.

Gezira’s new civil council comprises 31 members representing various localities, chosen through agreement by the “Localities Community” led by Ahmed Mohamed al-Bashir.

They have the authority to elect the head of the civilian administration. The new administration aims to restore order, protect civilians, and provide basic services in coordination with the RSF controlling the state.

Ahmed said that the RSF’s efforts in Gezira present a unique experiment and called for international cooperation to achieve civilian administration goals. He also urged warring parties to bravely decide to end the war for the state’s benefit.

The concept of decentralized civilian administration isn’t new in Sudan, a country familiar with civil strife.

The Sudan People's Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N), led by Abdel-Aziz al-Hilu, implemented a similar model in areas it controlled in South Kordofan State for over a decade.

Since the conflict erupted between the army and the RSF, concerns have risen about Sudan possibly fracturing into warring factions, despite assurances from both sides about unity.



Iraq Holds Kurdish Government Legally Responsible for Continued Oil Smuggling

Kurdish protesters block the road in front of trucks carrying oil in the Arbat area near Sulaymaniyah, Iraq February 23, 2025. REUTERS/Ako Rasheed/File Photo
Kurdish protesters block the road in front of trucks carrying oil in the Arbat area near Sulaymaniyah, Iraq February 23, 2025. REUTERS/Ako Rasheed/File Photo
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Iraq Holds Kurdish Government Legally Responsible for Continued Oil Smuggling

Kurdish protesters block the road in front of trucks carrying oil in the Arbat area near Sulaymaniyah, Iraq February 23, 2025. REUTERS/Ako Rasheed/File Photo
Kurdish protesters block the road in front of trucks carrying oil in the Arbat area near Sulaymaniyah, Iraq February 23, 2025. REUTERS/Ako Rasheed/File Photo

Iraq's oil ministry said on Thursday it holds the Kurdish regional government (KRG) legally responsible for the continued smuggling of oil from the Kurdish region outside the country.

The ministry reserves the right to take all legal measures in the matter, it added.

Control over oil and gas has long been a source of tension between Baghdad and Erbil, Reuters reported.

Iraq is under pressure from the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries to cut output to compensate for having produced more than its agreed volume. OPEC counts oil flows from Kurdistan as part of Iraq's quota.

In a ruling issued in 2022, Iraq's federal court deemed an oil and gas law regulating the oil industry in Iraqi Kurdistan unconstitutional and demanded that Kurdish authorities hand over their crude oil supplies.

The ministry said the KRG’s failure to comply with the law has hurt both oil exports and public revenue, forcing Baghdad to cut output from other fields to meet OPEC quotas.

The ministry added that it had urged the KRG to hand over crude produced from its fields, warning that failure to do so could result in significant financial losses and harm the country’s international reputation and oil commitments.

Negotiations to resume Kurdish oil exports via the Iraq-Türkiye oil pipeline, which once handled about 0.5% of global oil supply, have stalled over payment terms and contract details.