Kenya offers to assist in Sudan’s peace talks, amid rising tensions
On February 19th, Kenya announced it would be willing to assist in peace initiatives in Sudan, despite rising tensions between the two countries. This followed accusations from Khartoum that Nairobi infringed on its sovereignty when they hosted a meeting for Sudan’s paramilitary group, the Rapid Support Force (RSF).
According to AfricaNews, Sudan strongly condemned Kenya’s decision to hold the meeting on February 18th, calling it an “act of hostility.”
Deputy Commander of the RSF, Abdel-Rahim Hamdan Dagalo, headed a Sudanese delegation at the Kenyatta International Conference Center, where he suggested an announcement would be made on February 21st.
Kenya’s foreign ministry has responded, emphasising its role in hosting Sudanese refugees and its wishes to encourage a dialogue “without any ulterior motives.”
Nonetheless this decision has been controversial, with experts such as Kisemei Mutisya, a lecturer at Riara International University, warning that Kenya may now be faced with international isolation as they are perceived as backing a rebel faction rather than the legitimate Sudanese government.”Any effort to undermine or interfere with it in an undiplomatic manner, as Kenya appears to be doing, could provide Sudan with grounds to bring the case before the International Court of Justice,” Mutisya said.
The current conflict in Sudan between the military and the RSF has caused over 24,000 fatalities, displacing over 14 million people say the United Nations.
As a result, around 3.2 million Sudanese people have been forced to flee to neighboring countries.
Haydar Abdul Karim, Sudanese peace activist and journalist, said regional governments should remain neutral and avoid legitimising the RSFs moves to establish a new government in Sudan.
Recently, the RSF have been struggling in the conflict, with the military recapturing key areas such as Wad Madani.
AfricaNews, Maghrebi, The Kenyatta International Convention Centre
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