Sudan's government has made changes to the country's transitional constitution to cement the army's control, removing references to civilians and the rival Rapid Support Forces (RSF), two government sources said.

The changes, agreed late on Wednesday, represent the first comprehensive changes to Sudan's constitutional document since war broke out in April 2023, and come after army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan said he was readying a wartime cabinet.

They also come as the RSF holds talks in the Kenyan capital Nairobi ahead of the signing of a political charter, expected on Friday, that would pave the way for its own "Government of Peace and Unity".

The pro-army government recalled its ambassador to Kenya on Thursday in protest at the RSF-led talks.

The conflict between the army and the RSF has splintered Sudan, caused a massive humanitarian crisis and drawn in regional powers. Diplomatic efforts to resolve it have stalled. 

The army was long on the back foot militarily before making recent gains in the capital Khartoum and central Sudan. Together with the government that supports it, the army has used Port Sudan on the Red Sea Coast as a base.

The constitutional document dates to 2019, when it was signed by the army, the RSF, and the civilian Forces of Freedom and Change (FFC) coalition shortly after the military factions toppled Omar al-Bashir during a popular uprising.

It was meant to lead to full civilian rule after elections, with former rebel groups also given government positions. But the army and RSF staged a coup in 2021, appointing new civilians to the country's Sovereign Council and cabinet, which hold formal power because a parliament was never formed.

War broke out when the RSF and army disagreed on how to share power during a renewed push towards democracy. The RSF made quick advances and still controls swathes of the country, especially in the west.

The changes to the constitutional document codify the removal of all references to the RSF and FFC, and remove civilians from the ruling Sovereign Council, according to the sources, who were speaking on condition of anonymity.

The council will have nine members: six officers appointed by army command and three former rebel leaders.

The changes give Burhan, as the council's head, power to appoint and remove a civilian prime minister, the sources said.

Former rebels, on whom the army depends for military support, will retain allocations of seats in the future cabinet. The New Arab Staff & Agencies