Sudan fires back at Kenya for defending RSF meeting in Nairobi
A diplomatic storm has continued to build up between Kenya and Sudan after the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), the group battling the Sudanese army for control of the country, staged their meeting in Nairobi.
In a rejoinder to Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi’s statement justifying Kenya’s action, Sudan dismissed the explanation describing it as a disgraceful stance.
Through a strongly worded release to the media on Friday, February 21, 2025, Sudan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs indicated that the meeting hosted by splinter groups wanted to establish a parallel government.
The ministry claimed that the group which staged their meeting at Kenyatta International Convention Center (KICC) was at the centre of atrocities meted out at citizens in the East African country including the recent one where hundreds lost their lives.
“This hostile and irresponsible move cannot be justified by referring to the previous hosting of the Machakos negotiations, as these were between the Government of Sudan and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) in South Sudan, with the approval of the Government and under the auspices of IGAD and notable international sponsorship.
“Conversely, the current meeting in Nairobi is between the terrorist Janjaweed militia and its affiliates, aimed at establishing a parallel government to the legitimate one in Sudan. This occurs while the terrorist militia continues to commit genocidal acts, ethnic cleansing, and widespread rape. The most recent atrocity was the Qetina massacre, which took place during the Nairobi meetings, claiming the lives of 433 civilians,” Sudan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs statement read in part.
Calls out Ruto
At the same time, the Sudanese government dragged Ruto to the centre of the simmering diplomatic tiff. Without mincing their words, they accused Ruto of siding with RSF.
The Sudanese Foreign Ministry noted that Ruto’s administration unfurled a scarlet red mat for RSF leader Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo famously known as Hemedti when he visited Nairobi.
They further claimed that Ruto had picked the RSF side due to commercial interests without delving deeper into it.
“The current meetings are merely the culmination of the ongoing support provided by the Kenyan presidency to the terrorist militia in various fields. Nairobi has thus become one of the main centres for the militia’s political, propaganda, financial, and logistical activities. The Kenyan President has also previously accorded a red-carpet reception to the RSF militia leader.
“Thus, the Kenyan President is seen by the majority of the Sudanese people as complicit in the war of aggression being waged against them by the terrorist RSF militia and its foreign mercenaries,” Sudan added.
Mudavadi’s statement
Mudavadi had earlier released a statement defending the move where he said the RSF and Sudanese civilian groups’ tabling of a roadmap and proposed leadership in Nairobi is compatible with Kenya’s role in peace negotiation.
He however insisted that Kenya was non-partisan in their bid to seek resolution to their conflict.
“Kenya therefore reiterates its solidarity with the people of Sudan as they define their destiny and future political governance through inclusive dialogue. Kenya is confident that the Sudanese people will find a quick solution to the current situation, and in a manner that safeguards its security and that of the region,” Mudavadi’s statement read in part.
Despite Mudavadi’s statement, Kenya has continued to receive fire from Sudan with top leaders calling out President Ruto for siding with RSF whose leader was recently sanctioned by President Donald Trump’s administration.
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