Sudan Slams Kenya for Hosting RSF in Nairobi, Labels It an Act of Hostility

NAIROBI, Kenya - The military government of Sudan has accused Kenya of hostility after Nairobi allowed the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) to host its activities at the Kenyatta International Conference Centre (KICC), triggering sharp criticism of the country’s foreign policy.

In a statement, Sudan said Kenya had violated basic principles of good neighbourhood. Through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Sudan accused Kenya of fueling insecurity in the country by hosting 'terrorists'.

“Hosting leaders of the terrorist RSF militia and allowing them to conduct political and propaganda activities constitutes an endorsement of and complicity in these heinous crimes," Sudan said.

“Equally, this action by the Kenyan government violates the principles of good neighbourliness and contravenes the pledges Kenya has made at the highest levels not to allow hostile activities against Sudan to be carried out on its soil. It is, therefore, tantamount to an act of hostility against the entire Sudanese people."

However, Kenya's Principal Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Korir Sing’oei, said the country supports negotiations and mediation in the Sudan conflict and that, as a good neighbour, it has a responsibility to help solve the crisis.

“Quite to the contrary, Kenya is a supporter of a negotiated settlement to the dispute and has said as much time without number.

“That one side to the conflict is laying down her political demands in no way suggests that the government favours these demands,” he said.

However, Sudan said the decision by Kenya is regrettable and that it disregards obligations under international law, the Charter of the United Nations, the Constitutive Act of the African Union, and the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide.

The ministry, however, said the political agreement signed in Nairobi to form a parallel government by the Rapid Support Forces will have no effect in Sudan, adding that the military is keen to restore order to the northern African country.

“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs affirms that this propaganda stunt will have no impact on the ground, as the Sudanese Armed Forces, along with joint and supporting forces—backed by the Sudanese people—remain resolute in their determination to liberate every inch of Sudanese territory desecrated by the terrorist militia and its foreign mercenaries,” the MFA said.

The RSF, one of the warring factions accused of genocide in the protracted Sudan war, met at KICC on Tuesday to plan for the launch of what it termed a “Government of Peace and Unity”.

Sudan has been experiencing instability since the ouster of Omar al-Bashir in 2019 following a popular uprising. However, the situation worsened after the Rapid Support Forces engaged with the Sudan Armed Forces in leadership wrangles.

GAROWE ONLINE