Internal condemnation and denunciation in Kenya for Nairobi’s initiation to host a conference to establish a Sudanese parallel government

Sudanhorizon – Osman Siddiq
The behaviour of the presidency in Kenya in facilitating the announcement of a group of Sudanese forces allied with the rebel Rapid Support Forces militia about plans to form a parallel government from Nairobi stirred shock waves in political and diplomatic circles. Kenya’s position vis a vis the war taking place in Sudan brought it to a direct diplomatic confrontation with Khartoum, as Khartoum responded quickly and recalled its ambassador from Nairobi in protest against the aggressive Kenyan behaviour.
Sudan has previously rejected President William Ruto’s heading of the mediation team set up by the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), accusing Kenya of bias.
Ruto further strained relations in January 2024 when he hosted Rapid Support Forces (RSF) leader Hemedti in Nairobi. Kenya’s Standard reported on Tuesday that the strained relations between Kenya and Sudan reflect Nairobi’s recent diplomatic missteps in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
In 2023, Ruto hosted M23 rebels in Nairobi, prompting the DRC to recall its representatives from Kenya and Tanzania for consultations. The DRC’s foreign ministry also summoned Kenya’s ambassador to explain how the rebels were allowed to declare an alliance in the country. The newspaper quoted Professor Peter Kagwanja of the African Policy Institute as saying that this move was reckless and also harmed Kenya’s foreign policy relations with the United States, the European Union, China, the Arab League and even the African Union. Foreign policy expert Peter Kagwanja also warned that hosting armed groups entails significant geopolitical risks. “Being cautious about excesses is an old wisdom Kenya should take seriously,” he added. “It is certainly a dark day for our diplomacy. Kenya’s ‘rogue state’ option was never on our diplomatic cards. It was never in our wildest imaginations as an alternative.”
On Thursday, Kenya’s Nation newspaper quoted Mukhisa Kituyi, a Kenyan politician and former secretary-general of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, as saying: “What Ruto is doing is a reckless abandonment of the traditional caution and dignified approach of Kenyan diplomacy.” He added that he was “trying to legitimize a criminal gang that has been tearing people apart.”
In an editorial on Thursday, Kenya’s The Star newspaper said: “We should not take sides in Sudan’s war.” It added: “The question on every patriot’s mind will be what interest Kenya has in welcoming a rebel group?” predictably triggering a hostile reaction from the government of Sudan. The diplomatic spat was only a matter of time.
Kenya has a well-recognized international reputation as a regional peacemaker and beyond. The newspaper pointed out that former President Uhuru Kenyatta was leading peace efforts in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and President William Ruto was busy trying to calm the escalating tension and war in eastern DRC between the M23 movement and the Kinshasa government. That is why it is surprising that a country known for peace has resorted to hosting a rebel group, a clear signal of who we support when the more logical idea is to push the warring parties to the negotiating table.
It went on to say.. As a country, we have to move very carefully in the volatile circumstances we are facing, rather than acting hastily without a clear picture of the consequences of our actions.
In its Wednesday issue, the People’s Daily newspaper reported that Kenya continued to receive strong reactions from different sectors as Kitui Senator Enoch Wambua joined other leaders in criticizing President William Ruto’s administration for what he called a diplomatic blunder. Speaking in the Senate on Wednesday, February 19, 2025, Wambua said that Kenya had erred in allowing the group planning to declare a breakaway government to hold its meeting in Nairobi. Wambua stressed that rolling out a crimson red carpet for such groups would cost the country even in its future ambitions. “These are the things that cost us dearly,” he added.
The Kenyan newspaper The Brief also criticized William Ruto’s move, with the headline on Monday itself being “Ruto’s diplomatic indiscipline continues as Kenya hosts parallel government launch by Sudanese rebels,” commenting: Once again, the administration of President William Ruto has raised eyebrows with its conduct in the region as it hosts the Sudanese rebel group – the Rapid Support Forces – to launch a parallel administration, which is likely to aggravate further the already strained diplomatic relations between the Kenyan and Sudanese governments. The launch comes just two weeks after the military-led Sudanese government sent a delegation led by the foreign minister to dissuade President William Ruto from hosting the event and supporting the parallel government.
The Associated Press reported on Wednesday the condemnation of academic Macharia Munene, a professor of international relations at the United States International University in Africa, who said Kenya risks international isolation due to this “grave foreign policy blunder.” He claims that Kenyan foreign policy has become a “one-man show” with the president benefiting from his friendship with Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, popularly known as (Hemedti) without taking into account Kenyan national interests.
Regionally: The General Secretariat of the Arab League expressed Friday its deep concern and strong condemnation of any measures that would undermine the unity of Sudan or lead to its division under any pretext. According to the “Middle East Monitor”, the General Secretariat confirmed in a statement its continued efforts to help resolve the Sudanese crisis based on the established Arab principles that prioritize preserving Sudan’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and national institutions.
Globally: The electronic newspaper “Sudan Tribune” reported on Wednesday the United Nations’ warning that the parallel government of the Rapid Support Forces threatens to fragment Sudan. The newspaper indicated that the United Nations expressed its deep concern about reports that the Sudanese Rapid Support Forces are planning to declare a parallel government, warning that such a move would escalate the conflict and fragment the country.
UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric told reporters in a press briefing that the United Nations has seen extensive reports about the Rapid Support Forces and others’ expected announcement to establish a parallel government or parallel governing body.
“We are deeply concerned about any further escalation of the Sudanese conflict and any steps like this that would further fragment the country and risk making this crisis worse,” Dujarric said. “For us, preserving Sudan’s unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity remains essential to a sustainable solution to the conflict and long-term stability for the country and the wider region,” he added.

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