SPLM-N and RSF Forge Alliance in Nairobi: Implications for Sudan's Civil War

In February 2025, a significant political development unfolded in Nairobi, Kenya, as the Sudan People's Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N), led by Abdelaziz al-Hilu, aligned with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) during a conference. This collaboration signals a potential intensification of Sudan's civil war, particularly in the Nuba Mountains, a region that had remained relatively peaceful since the conflict's onset in April 2023.

The conference, held at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre, saw Al-Hilu and RSF Deputy Commander-in-Chief Abdelrahim Dagalo jointly announce the formation of a 'parallel government' to rival Sudan's military-led administration based in Port Sudan. Al-Hilu emphasized the need to dismantle the existing state's violent apparatus, advocating for a new governance model rooted in equality and justice.

This burgeoning alliance between SPLM-N and RSF has raised concerns about the potential escalation of hostilities in the Nuba Mountains, an area historically plagued by conflict but relatively calm in recent times. The Sudanese government has condemned Kenya for hosting the conference, viewing it as an infringement on Sudan's sovereignty and a hostile act. In response, Kenya's foreign ministry reaffirmed its commitment to facilitating peace efforts in Sudan, citing its history of hosting Sudanese refugees and promoting dialogue.

The international community is closely monitoring these developments, apprehensive that the SPLM-N and RSF's political manoeuvring could exacerbate the ongoing civil war and destabilize the region further.