Sudan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has recalled its ambassador to Kenya, Kamal Jubara, in protest against Nairobi’s decision to host meetings involving the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) militia and its allies, the SUNA media outlet reported Thursday.
Moreover, in a strongly worded statement issued on the same day, Sudan accused Kenyan President William Ruto of supporting efforts to establish a “parallel government” for the RSF, which it calls a “terrorist militia.” The ministry said that Nairobi has become a hub for the group's “political, propaganda, financial, and logistical activities.”
“This hostile and irresponsible move cannot be justified by referring to the previous hosting of the Machakos negotiations,” the Sudanese Foreign Ministry said, rejecting comparisons to Kenya’s past peace efforts.
It argued that, unlike the Machakos Protocol—held with the Sudanese government’s approval under IGAD and international oversight—the current Nairobi meetings involve a militia engaged in ongoing war crimes, including genocide and ethnic cleansing.
On Wednesday, Kenya defended its role, asserting that its diplomatic efforts are aimed at facilitating peace. The Kenyan Ministry of Foreign Affairs pointed to the country’s long history of mediation in regional conflicts, including its role in brokering the 2002 Machakos Protocol that helped end Sudan’s civil war.
“When Kenya offers this space, it is without any ulterior motives. It is because we believe there is no military solution to political disputes,” Kenya said.
Furthermore, Khartoum also criticized Kenya for deepening its ties with the RSF, pointing to previous diplomatic engagements between Ruto and RSF leader Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo.
“The Kenyan president has placed his personal and commercial interests with the militia’s regional sponsors above the historical relations between the two brotherly countries,” the statement read.
Despite Sudan’s diplomatic protest, Kenya has not indicated any plans to halt the meetings. Khartoum, meanwhile, has vowed to take further measures to protect its national security and sovereignty while calling on regional and international actors to reject any attempts to undermine Sudan’s legitimate government.