The Sudanese government has indefinitely suspended all imports from Kenya in response to Nairobi’s decision to host the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) last month.
The Ministry of Trade and Supply issued the decree following a Cabinet resolution aimed at penalizing Kenya for facilitating RSF activities, a move seen as exacerbating tensions in Sudan.
Citing national security concerns, the Sudanese government justified the decision as necessary to safeguard its sovereignty.
The official statement declared that all imports from Kenya via land, sea, and air would be halted with immediate effect, instructing all relevant authorities to enforce the ban.
Political rift with regional implications
The ongoing power struggle in Sudan between the RSF and the national army has thrown the country into turmoil since April 2023,.
Leading to thousands of casualties and widespread displacement.
With the army controlling the Eastern and Northern regions and the RSF dominating the West and South, Kenya’s move to host RSF leaders has fueled diplomatic tensions.
Nairobi’s decision raised concerns about Kenya’s foreign policy stance, given its history of mediating conflicts in the region.
Sudan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the move, accusing Kenya of interfering in its internal affairs.
The ministry went further to label RSF as a “terrorist militia” responsible for heinous crimes, including genocide and ethnic-based attacks.
Hosting its leaders, the statement added, amounted to complicity in these atrocities.
The African Union also weighed in, warning that supporting a parallel government could lead to Sudan’s partition.
In an official statement, the AU reaffirmed that it does not recognize any breakaway government within Sudan.
Kenya Defends its role in peace efforts
In response, Kenya’s Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary, Musalia Mudavadi, defended the country’s actions, stating that Nairobi remains committed to facilitating peace in Sudan.
He emphasized that Kenya has long provided a neutral platform for conflict resolution in the region.
“This is not the first time Sudanese factions have sought external mediation,” Mudavadi explained,
Noting that in January 2024, stakeholders met in a neighbouring country to discuss a peaceful transition to civilian rule.
He added that the RSF and Sudanese civilian groups’ decision to draft a roadmap in Nairobi aligned with Kenya’s broader peacekeeping mission.
As the diplomatic rift deepens, the future of trade relations between the two nations remains uncertain, with wider implications for regional stability.
