Kenya has reiterated its commitment to supporting peace efforts in Sudan, following claims from Khartoum that Nairobi’s hosting of a Rapid Support Forces (RSF) delegation amounted to a hostile act. The RSF meeting, held at the Kenyatta International Conference Center in Nairobi, preceded a planned RSF announcement of a parallel government in Sudan. Kenya’s Foreign Ministry emphasized that its history of hosting Sudanese refugees and facilitating dialogue reflects neutrality and humanitarian concern, not favoritism toward any faction.
The ongoing conflict in Sudan has already claimed over 24,000 lives and displaced more than 14 million people, according to the United Nations. Regional observers warned that Kenya’s engagement, particularly given President William Ruto’s personal rapport with RSF leader Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo (Hemedti), risks diplomatic friction. Experts, such as Professor Macharia Munene from the United States International University-Africa, cautioned that personal alliances must not overshadow Kenya’s broader national interests. Meanwhile, Sudanese authorities report that recent RSF attacks have killed over 400 civilians, intensifying the humanitarian crisis.
Local and diaspora peace activists have urged Kenya and other regional governments to maintain impartiality. Haydar Abdul Karim, a Sudanese peace activist residing in Kenya, stressed that international actors should focus on facilitating dialogue rather than supporting one faction over another. Kenya’s stance highlights the delicate role it plays as a regional mediator, balancing humanitarian responsibility with the need to maintain credibility and avoid escalating tensions in an already volatile conflict.