By Mwangi Maina, NAIROBI
Kenya
Kenya is facing a diplomatic firestorm after Sudan's government on Tuesday accused President William Ruto of reneging on a high-level promise by allowing the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and allied groups to hold discussions in Nairobi on forming a parallel government.
In a strongly worded
statement, Sudan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs slammed Kenya for violating
diplomatic assurances, citing an undisclosed January meeting where Ruto had
personally assured Sudan's top diplomat Ali al-Sadiq Youssif that Nairobi would
not be used as a launch pad for efforts to install a rival administration.
"The Republic of Sudan
expresses its deep regret and dismay at the government of Kenya's violation of
its commitments at the highest levels not to allow its territory to be a
platform for activities hostile to Sudan," the Sudanese Foreign Ministry
stated hours after the RSF kicked off a meeting in Nairobi.
Sudan further accused Kenya of
complicity in efforts to undermine the country's sovereignty, framing the
Nairobi meetings as a clear violation of international law, the African Union
(AU) Constitutive Act, and the UN Charter.
"The Kenyan government
has deliberately disregarded its obligations and chosen to host and support
these illegitimate gatherings, which seek to destabilise Sudan and its
institutions," the statement said.
This latest falling-out puts
President Ruto in a precarious position, especially with the US closely
watching.
The US government has
sanctioned RSF leader Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo ‘Hemedti’ for atrocities in Sudan,
including war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Yet, Nairobi has rolled out
the red carpet for his faction, allowing the controversial talks to proceed.
Sudan's foreign ministry did
not hold back in its condemnation, warning that Kenya's actions would have
consequences.
"This is a serious breach
of trust, and Sudan will not stand idly by as its sovereignty is undermined
under the pretext of regional mediation," the statement read.
Notably, the State House
Nairobi and the Foreign Office have remained silent on Sudan's accusations.
Ruto's administration has yet to clarify why Kenya went back on its assurances
to Khartoum, or whether there was official approval for the RSF-led political
manoeuvring in Nairobi.
Kenya's diplomatic credibility
is now on the line, and with Sudan publicly exposing Ruto's broken promise, the
pressure is mounting for Nairobi to explain its stance — or face the
consequences.
In a statement carried by the
official SUNA news agency, Sudan’s acting foreign minister Ali Al-Sadiq said
the country's ambassador to Kenya had been recalled “for consultations in protest of the official
reception organized by the Kenyan government for the leader of the rebel
militia.”
He said those consultations would “cover all possibilities for the outcome of Sudan’s relations with Kenya.”
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