Led by Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, popularly known as Hemedti, members of Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces held their meeting at Kenya’s capital, Nairobi, on Tuesday, February 18, 2025, making a bold, controversial declaration about their general political future. RSF attempted to sign a ‘Sudan Founding Charter’ to establish a new parallel government.
As one of the warring factions in Sudan’s brutal conflict, the RSF’s declaration on Kenyan soil has been termed by Kenyans as a violation of their sovereignty and an act of hostility against the entire Sudanese people. They believe this move places Kenya at risk of a diplomatic incident and constitutes a breach of neutrality, potentially straining its relations with Sudan, given that the Sudanese government is already describing the RSF’s actions as terrorist attacks on civilians and, therefore, calling on regional and international communities to take a tough stance on the rapid support forces. Kenyans also believe that President Ruto is failing both the country and the East African Community (EAC), particularly in his role as EAC’s chair.
In a press statement dated Tuesday, February 18, 2025, through its foreign affairs ministry, Sudan’s government condemned Kenya for allowing the RSF to hold a meeting in Nairobi:
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs regrets the Kenyan government’s disregard for its 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 by hosting the event of signing a so-called “political agreement” between the terrorist Janjaweed militia-responsible for ongoing acts of genocide in Sudan and its affiliated individuals and groups.”
The statement further emphasized Sudan’s readiness to take necessary action against the Kenyan government:
“While the Ministry calls on the international community to condemn this hostile act by the Kenyan government, it affirms that it will take all necessary measures to redress the balance.”
The Sudanese government recently accused the RSF of deadly attacks. Sudan’s Foreign Ministry says the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces have killed 433 civilians, including children, in attacks over the past three days. The fighters reportedly targeted villages around al-Gitaina in White Nile State, south of the capital, Khartoum. Al-Gitaina was the first city captured by the RSF in December 2023. The RSF and the Sudanese army have been in a power struggle since April 2023.
This development could significantly affect Kenya-Sudan relations and the broader East African Community (EAC) diplomacy. President Ruto’s handling of the situation could influence Kenya’s diplomatic standing within the bloc. If Kenya is perceived as taking sides, it may face backlash from other member states and international stakeholders urging neutrality in Sudan’s conflict.
The Rapid Support Forces are primarily composed of Janjaweed militias, formerly backed by the Sudanese government. It expanded beyond control, and its actions in Darfur were deemed crimes against humanity by Human Rights Watch.
