Nairobi: Kenya has re-affirmed its commitment to peacebuilding and humanitarian support in the ongoing Sudan conflict, amid rising media scrutiny over the country's diplomatic involvement.
According to Kenya News Agency, speaking at a lecture on Kenya's diplomatic involvement in the Sudan crisis, the Government Spokesperson, Dr. Isaac Mwaura, denied any claims that the country was supporting either side in the conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), led by Generals Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo (Hemedti), respectively.
Dr. Mwaura categorically stated that the Kenyan government is supporting the ceasefire process in Sudan under IGAD, led by the President, and dismissed any other assertions as unfounded. He emphasized that Kenya remains a peace builder in the region.
The Government Spokesperson pointed out that the Sudan conflict, which has ravaged the country since 2023, stems from decades of economic mismanagement and political instability. He reflected on the crisis's escalation following the 2019 removal of President Omar al-Bashir and the subsequent military transition under General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and Lieutenant General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo (Hemedti). The power struggle between their respective factions, the SAF and RSF, has since erupted into full-scale civil war.
Dr. Mwaura highlighted the humanitarian crisis, noting that 18 million Sudanese are food insecure and 11 million require urgent health care, with outbreaks of cholera, dengue fever, and measles. He urged for support, revealing Kenya's pledge of $2 million in humanitarian assistance through international donor conferences in Paris (2024), Addis Ababa (2025), and London.
He assured that Kenya is willing to facilitate peace talks by accommodating the conflicting parties and other stakeholders and has hosted Generals Burhan and Hemedti for dialogue to push for a ceasefire, reiterating Kenya's involvement in seeking a lasting solution through IGAD.
The RSF and other actors signed the Sudan Founding Charter in Nairobi in February 2025. A transitional charter followed in March, culminating in the RSF declaring a Government of Peace and Unity in April. Dr. Mwaura disclosed that Egypt and Iran have supported SAF, while the UAE has backed RSF, driven by interests in gold, water, agriculture, and Red Sea access.
He emphasized that Kenya is not aligned with any of the warring parties and that external partners can only support the Sudanese in finding their own solution. Dr. Mwaura asserted that any notion of Kenya doing business or picking sides is unfounded, and Kenya treats all its partners, neighbors, and states with mutual respect and diplomacy.
Dr. Mwaura called for global coordination, urging the African Union (AU), United Nations (UN), and other multilateral organizations to develop a unified approach, stressing that peace in Sudan is a regional and humanitarian imperative. He reiterated Kenya's crucial diplomatic role in seeking a peaceful resolution to the crisis.
On the refugee issue, Dr. Mwaura praised Kenya's Ushirika Plan as a globally recognized model for refugee management, citing a conference in Zambia that acknowledged this approach as a testament to Kenya's leadership in offering dignity and protection to displaced persons.