Sudan’s military government has sharply criticized Kenya for allegedly supporting a rival paramilitary group’s declaration of a parallel administration, escalating tensions between the two nations amid Sudan’s protracted civil war. In a Sunday statement, Sudan’s Foreign Ministry accused Nairobi of endorsing the Rapid Support Forces’ (RSF) move to establish a competing government, calling it a “blatant violation of sovereignty” and a breach of international norms. The ministry asserted that Kenya’s reported backing undermines agreements by the United Nations, African Union, and regional bloc IGAD, which advocate for Sudan’s territorial unity.
The RSF, locked in a year-long power struggle with Sudan’s military, announced its parallel governance structure last week—a move dismissed by the ruling junta as a “fictitious” propaganda tactic to obscure battlefield losses. The Foreign Ministry condemned the RSF’s declaration as a “desperate” bid to legitimize its campaign, accusing the group of exploiting misinformation to divert attention from alleged atrocities, including violence and torture against civilians. Officials also raised concerns about unnamed domestic actors collaborating with the RSF to orchestrate an “illegal seizure of power,” referencing the April 2023 outbreak of full-scale conflict between the paramilitary group and the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF).
Khartoum urged neighboring states and global institutions to reject the RSF’s claims, warning that engagement with the “illegitimate entity” would constitute an attack on Sudan’s sovereignty. This marks the latest escalation in a series of disputes between Sudan and Kenya, which has faced repeated accusations of aiding the RSF. In June, Sudan demanded Kenya halt alleged support for the paramilitary force, designated a “terrorist militia” by the U.S. over human rights abuses. Sudan’s Foreign Ministry claimed Nairobi had provided active assistance to the RSF, though Kenya has defended its diplomatic outreach as part of broader peace efforts.
The conflict, now entering its second year, pits General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan’s SAF against RSF commander Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo (Hemedti), displacing millions and leaving over 25 million people in need of aid. The crisis drew heightened scrutiny in January 2025 when the U.S. accused the RSF of genocide in Darfur, citing systematic violence against non-Arab communities. While Kenya hosted RSF representatives earlier this year—a decision criticized by Khartoum—Nairobi maintains such engagements aim to advance dialogue.
Regional mediation led by IGAD and the African Union continues, though progress remains stalled by mutual distrust. Analysts warn the RSF’s governance bid could further fracture Sudan, complicating efforts to resolve a war that has destabilized the Horn of Africa and drawn in regional actors. As diplomatic tensions simmer, humanitarian agencies emphasize the urgent need for ceasefire agreements to address what the UN calls one of the world’s most severe displacement and hunger crises.
